Correspondent photos / Sean Barron John Lorenzi, a woodcarver from Boardman, works on a project during a carving demonstration Saturday afternoon at the Canfield Fair.

CANFIELD — While visiting the 49th state, John Lorenzi may have seen a certain amount of ice, but perhaps more importantly, he returned with two other intangible “I’s:” influences and ideas.

“I went to Alaska and saw them running around, and I realized I had to make one,” Lorenzi, of Boardman, said.

He was referring to Dall sheep, a species of wild sheep native to the Pacific Northwest that also inhabit many of Alaska’s mountain ranges. The largely white animals are probably best known for huge curled horns on the males.

The ideas and influences portions of his Alaskan journey could be found in a much smaller basswood Dall sheep prototype, which was among the many items he had carved that were on display as part of a four-hour wood carving demonstration Saturday at the 179th Canfield Fair.

Accompanying Lorenzi at the table was fellow carver Patty McSuley of Boardman. Both of them are affiliated with the Western Reserve Woodcarvers and the Austintown Senior Center.

Also on his side of the table sat a cheetah and a mountain lion, both made from basswood, a soft and light fine-textured hardwood with a pale, off-white color that is easy to carve with hand tools and turn.

In addition, Lorenzi, a 33-year woodcarver, had a series of small Santa Claus figures he cut with a band saw, along with wooden spools crafted from maple wood.

Lorenzi recalled having met a co-worker who encouraged him to try the hobby. Before long, the two were collaborating to first make simple creations, then more complicated and challenging ones, Lorenzi said. He added that the two of them eventually went their separate ways, but that “the seed had been planted.”

The fact that McSuley’s father lost his job at Sharon Steel Corp. proved to be a mixed blessing because it also gave him more time to pursue woodcarving, along with the previously unexpected opportunity that came his daughter’s way.

“I went over to his house one day and he said, ‘You should try it,'” McSuley said about him introducing her to woodcarving, something she has done for about 31 years.

Initially, McSuley’s father gave her the necessary materials, along with a blank piece of wood with etchings in pencil for her to cut with a knife, she said. McSuley also recalled meeting, then working with, several carvers in Canfield.

For Saturday’s demonstration, McSuley busied herself via assiduously carving a love spoon with a handle shaped like a series of hearts. Also on display were a Celtic fish, a wooden sailor’s knot, a boot-shaped match holder and other items — all of which were made from walnut, cedar, white oak, pine or mango wood.

To successfully craft such creations, however, one needs to bring to the table more than simply the right tools and types of wood.

“You have to have patience and concentration,” McSuley said.

For his part, Lorenzi is proud to be among the veteran carvers who enjoy helping younger ones, he said. Lorenzi also recalled having worked with a 9-year-old child on a project at last year’s Canfield Fair.