[Colin_Partridge]

Hi gang,
Just need a little advice before I put a brush to these santa's. The santa's are carved out of bass wood. I just would like to know what I should put on them first before painting the bird carvers at our club all use Jesso. Also when we are talking about putting on the Acrilic paint in a wash about what ratio acrilic to water should I use. How about the paint bleading into the other colour's. I dont usually paint my carvings so any help I could get would be appreciated
Thanks in advance
Colin

[Kenny_S]

I use sealer and then lightly sand. Actually I use brown paper sack tron in to a 4x4inch and wadded up and used as sand paper. It thakes the fuzz down after the sealer is apply and it dosen't sand all the sealer off. It seems to keep the colors from bleeding. Gesso is a little to thick but I guess you can thinn it down. The ration I used is like 1 part paint to 3 parts water. May not be the right combonation but it works for me. Try whatever rato you think on a test piece to see if that is what you want and work from there.

Best wishes

Colin don't use Gesso unless you want to hide the grain, what I used is boiled lindseed oil and then paint. I have also heard of people using motor oil, they say its better than BLO, because it doesn't have an ordor. The ordor doesn't bother me though. Also you may want to water down your acrylics to the consistency of milk. If you want the grain to show, don't put as many coats on it, this way you can add more coats to your liking.
Have fun, I'll be painting and ornament tommorow also.
Mel

[Callynne]

Colin, I don't seal my carvings at all, I just start painting them. Some of my pieces, Angels and Fairies, I like to see the woodgrain for the 'skin tones' and for that I just use Formby's Tung Oil, then paint their clothes. Can't wait to see your Santas, have you enjoyed doing them? Callynne

[Colin_Partridge]

Callyne,
I have enjoyed doing the santa's very much I am just a little nervous about painting them I am afraid I will mess them up. I will however make an attempt at painting and see how it goes. It will probably take me longer to paint them than it did to carve them I have done three of them I am giving one to each one of my children and then the grandchildren want one so I guess I will have to do two more.
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have been doing the painting a little different than normal, more like Teri and some other carvers are doing....I wet the area down I am going to paint, and I thin the paint down substantially...I can always do another coat if its too thin! The thinner painting is actually a wash and you can get some interesting colors by stacking the washes if you are so inclined. This also lets people know it is a carving and not a plastic casting...many many ways to skin a cat however...!

[Bob's Birds]

Colin,
You should have just asked me about painting Santa's at the gym. I have tried about every method of sealing, etc, and now just put one light coat of brushing laquer thinned down to 1 part laquer and 3 parts laquer thinner.
Acrylic's go one great.

Bob

[Colin_Partridge]

Well Bob I see you finally made it on to the message board. For those of you that do not know Bob he is a fabulous carver. I am always amazed at his birds he is truly a great artist. Funny I see him at the gym every day and I have always admired his birds but I didnt even think to ask him. Sorry Bob I will check with you from now on before I ask the question here. BTW the woodspirit in the woodspirit album is Bobs if anyone is interested.
Colin

[Donna_T]

Colin,
I thin my water colors or acrylic paints about 10/1 and apply them one thin layer of 'wash' at a time..letting coats dry in between cause you really can't tell what color you have until it dries. (If you are in a big hurry, you can speed up the drying process with a hair dryer.)

I've had some good successes by spritzing a carving with water just to dampen it before painting. Don't get as much bleeding nor does it take as much paint. I've also spritzed it with a clear matt acrylic spray (LIGHTLY) and then let it dry and then use a Dremmel with Scotchbrite pad on it to run over the entire carving. This removes the fuzz and rough feel AND still leaves all the carving marks. THEN paint.

I took a carving workshop this winter where the instructor dipped his carving in tinted (with a drop of burnt umber) mineral spirits and let it 'cure' a week or so before painting with acrylic washes. It produced a georgeous antiqued patina look but I haven't had time to try it myself.

Donna T