group of Santas for 2012 Season

[susieq]

Last one.... just a simple candle stick figure. I did exaggerate his long stocking cap a bit. Gotta have a little fun with him.

[Jim OH]

Hey Susieq, You sound as tough on yourself as I do on myself. Personally I think your Santas look great. The beard work is phnominal and the painting and antiquing are outstanding! You may be right about the white robed Santas and if ya just decide to toss them please let me know the location of the dumpster cause I would be proud to have them LOL. I think you might be a bit over critical cause I couldn't find one wart ;O) Keep up your outstanding work!
jim

[DanJohnson]

Those are all fantastic. The finish really brought out the details in the beard, folds and texture. If I could ever approach the level of what you consider a disaster I would be a happy carver.

[Ed Redwine]

What a great start for the new year. Missed this thread in the beginning so it was neat to read and follow the progression. I like them all. These will be popular fellows when the sale time comes. Thanks for sharing these Susan.

[Tom Ellis]

I don' know how I missed this thread either Susie. I guess I just wasn't ready for Christmas again.
Your work on the hair, and the trim around the robes is fantastic, then the paint just makes them wonderful.

Love em, Tom

[susieq]

Hi Jim,
you are too kind....really. Either that or you have eyes like mine. :O But I appreciate your unwillingness to look too closely. Thanks.

Dan, I'm willing to bet you are hard on yourself while other's think you do great work..... I don't know too many carvers who are entirely satisfied with what they do. I guess that's just what keeps us trying harder the next time. I hope the new lighting arrangement in my shop, keeps the mistakes from happening again.... Thank you for the encouragement.

Hi Ed, Tom,
Thanks for taking a look and for your kind words. Our local club show is about 4 weeks away and these will be on the table.....the good, the bad and the ugly.
Luckily, the lighting at the show is favorable to hiding mistakes....LOL
Thanks again.

[Nancy-G]

Hey Susie -- where's the white robed guy's candy cane?

[susieq]

Hi Nancy,
The guy with the gift...is one of those very rare ones of mine....he doesn't have one. The other white robed guy with the Teddy Bear, has the candy cane tucked under his arm and partly covered by beard, the horn side....

[Nancy-G]

Thank you Susie .... I love looking at your Santas and always search for the candy cane lol lol and I missed the guy with the gift.
After Christmas I buy every box of candy canes I can find because the kids in my art class at church love them so much. I must have 30 boxes of them right now.
Candy canes are an important thing for me!

[susieq]

Those kids at church are lucky to have such a talented art teacher, never mind the candy canes..... that's just a bonus.

I always try to get a candy cane in there somewhere.....LOL Sometimes I just forget until it's too late to find a spot where one would look good. That's what happens when I carve free hand with no real plan, starting out. Anything can happen....