Good thing I'm painting him!

[Callynne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Callynne]

Ever find a nasty surprise like this hidden in your piece of basswood?! Angry I'm sure glad he's not a piece that I varnish the skin tone on and let the wood grain show through!

What would your solution be if it was something you were going to finish natural? I think I'd cut out all of his face, back into the hair line, then insert a piece of good wood, glue it into place and then carve it. Just have to be sure to get it set back in far enough, so you didn't carve into the glue!

I like having a center line down my carvings, to keep things even, but this is ridiculous! Hubby looked at him and said...."Hey, cyclops Santa!"....and he says I'm the smart mouthed one in the family! Ha! Ha! Sarcastic Deborah

[Thor Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Thor]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

The rough out is coming along nicely. I look forward to seeing his progress.
He kind of looks like he got shot in the head.
Thor

[Just Carving WhittleBear Carver Find all posts View Profile Close Just Carving]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

I am asking for my own knowledge since I don't have experience with a problem like this: would a wood filler or putty work in this case since you are painting him?

[Paul_Guraedy Historian Observing Life Find all posts View Profile Close Paul_Guraedy]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Deborah, take advantage of the wood. Leave the eye and carve a cyclops.

A few years ago, I was in a hunting camp watching a friend (non-carver) whittle out a walking staff he needed. There was a natural flaw in the top of the stick and he was going to simply cut it out of his way. I told him he should take advantage of the wood and leave the flaw there. He handed me the stick and said, "You're the carver, you do it!" Well, it was the simplest and fastest carving I have ever done. He loved it, made himself another staff and this one hangs on his wall at home.

[wade clark Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wade clark]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Deborah,
How about the third eye Santa? Or maybe a little guy peaking out of a big robe, his fingers not quite reaching the ends of the sleeves, maybe even another little guy peaking out half way up, so that the top little guy is standing on the bottom little guy's shoulders, kinda Little Rascals style.
If anyone can think their way around or through this, you can! Keep us posted!
Wade

[Nancy-ID Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy-ID]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Deborah, how about a pigeon on his head, butt forward? Wink Sorry, hehe, I know it has to be frustrating. Seriously, I think you are on the right track by glueing in another piece. Look on the bright side, you hadn't started detailing yet!

[kb2rocket Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kb2rocket]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

yall make me laugh

I love this placeBouncing S

[Mitchell Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Mitchell]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

"What would your solution be if it was something you were going to finish natural? I think I'd cut out all of his face, back into the hair line, then insert a piece of good wood, glue it into place and then carve it. Just have to be sure to get it set back in far enough, so you didn't carve into the glue!"

Deborah, another option would be to cut his head off and then glue on another piece of wood. The draw back is that this will having the two pieces match (if you want to leave him natural). It would be easier than removing just the face.

[Nancy-G Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy-G]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Deborah - I don't have much experience with natural finishing so I can't offer any advice but I have complete faith in whatever you do.

I sure hope you keep going on a "real" Santa.

((((Ben - lol))))

[Mottles Kathy Find all posts View Profile Close Mottles]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Looks like you'd got some good suggestions, so I'll just set back and see what ya do with them. I do think you have a good start I like the out stretched arms. I know you'll make it all come together I'll be watching and learning.
Kathy

[Callynne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Callynne]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

You guys are too funny, I love it! Since, however, this is a commissioned piece, I don't think the customer would like anything 'growing' out of Santa's head!

Paul, I really like that carving, reminds me of drawings I did in my teens....the dark stage! Lots of hooded 'death' figures with no faces....drove Mr. Brickner, the art teacher, crazy!

I worked on Santa some more this weekend, no more cyclops, as you can see, more the port wine stain birthmark look!

The wood is holding the detail so far, it's not crumbly, so since he's going to be painted (sorry, no natural look planned for his skin tone), what do you think? I can't see removing this area of wood since it's not crumbly or anything. Maybe I should coat it with super glue before painting...would that be a good idea? Of course, since I'm already cutting out of it in places, maybe till the detail carving and sanding is finished, there won't be any problem at all.

Kathy, this is the third Santa of this 'theme' that I've done, he will be holding a banner. When I get requests for 'repeat' carvings, I always change them a bit, so none are exactly alike. I feel everyone deserves an 'original', not an exact copy. Keeps the brain cells active, too, coming up with variations of theme! Deborah

[Anthony Filetti Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Anthony Filetti]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

...Bummer of a birthmark Deb!!!


Bob,
I added a filler to a small spot on my carving where it got too thin ('bout the size of a pin head), as I finish in thinned Acrylics not too sure how it would turn out, the paint did not absorb into the patch well...I would not advise using a filler unless painting full strength...

[squbrigg Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close squbrigg]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Now that is a challenge.....how about a normal face and make that into a bullet hole in his forehead? Poise him laid out on the floor in front of a fireplace and the caption underneith....."Santa.....dammit, I told you I wanted a .357, not the .44, it makes too big a hole.... see!"

Sorry, I have a sick sense of humor! Smile

Bob

[Blake Lunsford Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Blake Lunsford]

Re: Good thing I'm painting him!

Hey Deborah! Just wondering if you have had a chance to finish this piece. I'm sure interested to see how he is going to turn out. Your work is great! Thanks for sharing!

Blake