Teri Embrey's Santa Carvings

[KimHoJo]

I remember seeing Teri posting on these boards in the past and I wanted to ask how she "antiques" her carvings. Would you mind sharing your method if you still keep up with these boards, Teri? Or can anyone else give me ideas?

I've been using a Miniwax gel stain (Chestnut 601), but I'm not entirely pleased with the color or consistency. I love the effect Teri gets with her carvings; the color is much darker and it looks as though it's gone into the cracks and crevices much more evenly and smoothly.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[rick-in-seattle]

I can answer this question for Teri!!!

She doesn't actually antique her carvings as most of us do.
It is done almost entirely with woodburning and paint.

I doubt anyone could follow her technique, I have watched her paint and half expected her to ruin the carving, but it came out beautiful.

Her advantage is that she was a painter long before she began carving.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I think one time she told me she used burnt umber as a wash over the carving and wiped it off? not positive however.

[Nancy-G]

Teri cheats ..........

She uses Magic

[Hisart]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

I think one time she told me she used burnt umber as a wash over the carving and wiped it off? not positive however.

That's what I do. I also use burnt sienna and black. It's oil paint, thin it down with boiled linseed oil, paint it on and rub it off. Stays in the crevasses and pops out the details.

[kaiserb]

You could always use the Pete Leclair recipe.

He puts 1" Sqeeze of Raw Sienna in a 16 oz Watco Oil.

1. Shake
2. Paint on
3. Wipe off

[Teri Embrey]

I don't use any antiquing medium - I use a woodburner first - going over all the places I want to add shadows (cracks, creases, etc.). There are many ways to use a woodburner, though - so you have to think outside the box a little - not just burner to wood - but sometimes you have to use very high heat on the burner, and then just sort of guide it NEAR the wood, but not directly touching. It will leave lovely shadowing this way.

While I'm painting the piece, if I want even more shadowing, I'll paint it into the places I want it - adding either raw sienna or black in those areas (most times using a side-load method of painting).

I never cover a whole piece with a wash of anything - just do it where you want there to be those shadows.

Hope this helps,

Teri

[KimHoJo]

Thanks for all the replies! I know woodburners are used for fish scales and bird feathers and the like, but it never occured to me to try it for creases and shading. I just bought an inexpensive burner for my daughter and we've played with it by burning outlines in wood and coloring with oil pencils. I'll have to experiment with carvings and paint now.

Appreciate your taking the time to answer, Teri. Your carvings are beautiful!

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

just saw a "Teri Embrey" lookalike carver on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Carved-wood-Folk...QQcmdZViewItem

[kaiserb]

Originally Posted by Hi_Ho_Sliver

just saw a "Teri Embrey" lookalike carver on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Carved-wood-Folk...QQcmdZViewItem

That is Cheryl Schley, she sells about 4 a week on ebay. Her carvings are a little on the blocky side, she does not round everything off.