[Doug Ridley]

Here is a 31" Santa that Mary just finished painting. I THINK he is sold and going to Louisiana. These things this big are a lot harder to move than the smaller ones. Anyhow it is completely power carved and painted with oils.

[santagibbs]

Wow Dugh, he is beautiful.. I really like his gown or dress.. was that on the wood or did you carve that in there? Your wife paints very nice and I love the warm feel of the oils... Some one will be very lucky to have him by their tree this Christmas... Charlotte

[Kenny_S]

Nice one Doug. Like the front of the robe.

[Doug Ridley]

The robe itself is pretty much like nature made it. Besides the face, the only real carving was the tree and the bag. I try to leave as much as possible "as is" on these things. I like to tell customers that we just enhance what is already there and the tags we put on them call it "Enhancement" carving.

[chuckt]

Spectacular! I did a small Cypress Knee at NEWR last summer with Barbara Mann. Really liked it. I have a larger one (though nowhere near that big) that I am still trying to figure out what to do with. It is multi-pointed and kinda strangely shaped. Haven't been able to visualize the figure in it yet.

Great work!
ChuckT

[Banjo]

Wow, Doug! Great Santa! Your wife did an excellent job on the painting, too. Somebody is Lousiana is going to be very happy with him!

[Wolf Kiessling]

Very cool, Doug. I especially like your term "enhancement carving". I do a lot of that on stylized pieces even though I have never used the term. I may steal that from you................

[Blake Lunsford]

Ver nice Doug! I love the carving and painting!

Blake

[Tom H]

Wow Doug, that is nice. I haven't got my courage up to the point where I want to try carving a cypress knee. If and when I do It'll not be as big or turn out as grand as that one. Tom H

[GeorgiaCarver]

Hay Doug, that is one big cypress knee! looks great. That one will be a treasure for someone for sure.

Greg