Hot off the bench

[Sammy66]

All I can say is Wow! Your detail is fabulous.

[Bob K.]

Good to see you back carving again, Steve! Looks like you haven't lost a step! That's excellent work!

[JoeVM]

Another nice Santa, Steve.

[Mike WNC]

Steve. Thank you for your response, I appreciate it.
Mike

[Steve Reed]

Thanks every one for the kind words! Mike WNC, yes I always put a basecoat of BLO, Raw Sienna and Yellow Ocher, I think it gives the wood a look of the carvings I saw in Germany. After the entire carving is given the BLO, I do a quick wipe and start painting. The piece is 4" tall and 2 1/4" wide, carved "on the corner". Usually I thin the acrylics down and let the wood show through. In this case, the basswood was darker than usual, so the face only received thinned down paint for the blush on the cheeks, the nose and the mouth. The beard and moustache were done with thinned down "buttermilk" paint and white dry brush. Give it a try and see what works for you.
Phil, thanks, I've taken classes with a certain A list carver who insists that the proportion must be correct, so that's quite a complement!

[pallin]

Well Steve. we've all seen lots of Santa ornaments, but this time I stopped to analyze the details - the facial proportions, the nose, eyes, facial hair, hat. It's really well done in every detail, carving and painting. I especially liked how the beard followed the underlying facial contours. Phil

[Claude]

Nice one, Steve - love the eyes!

Claude

[Tinwood]

Really nice carving Steve. Beautiful job on the paint work as well.

Tinwood

[Dashriprock]

Great carving of old st Nick. Really like the detail and paint.

[Mike WNC]

Wow, thats nice. Can I ask how big it is? I'm thinking of trying a Santa ornament. Your paint job looks awesome. So you put BLO, tinted, on before you paint, am I reading that right?

[uvawyo]

Excellent ornie, Steve!

[sappy]

Really like the eyes, nice carving and painting!

[scotia carver]

Great carving Steve,keep them coming
Bruce

[Soggy]

Good to see you back carving again. It's obvious from this ornament that the time away from the carving bench didn't change anything ;...
Wayne

[joepaulbutler]

I bet it feels good to be back carving, good job