First Nativity

[voluminous-viking]

Here is my first Nativity. This was the one I was trying to clear coat in my previous thread. It's nothing spectacular, but I think it looks OK. I hope it does well for the church.

Thanks again for the advice.

[Donna_T]

It's a good example of contemporary folk art. Aren't you proud of your efforts? I'm sure the church will appreciate it. I would like to see you carve another one in a year or two--just to see what you learn about carving in that time period. Personally, I like to see painting with thin layers of color wash rather then the carving painted with full-strength-from-the-bottle. That lets the wood grain show through. Just a painting technique to think about and try for future carvings.

What an undertaking--good job!

Donna_T

[cut up]

Nice work, you should be proud.
Michael

[voluminous-viking]

Sure I'm proud of it, but I'm kind of one of those people that sees a project like this in a never-quite-finished sort of way.

I've thought of that, too, with the carving a new one in a year or so. Just to see how different it looks. Maybe I could make it a yearly thing. My brother kind of does that with scroll sawing. He usually makes baskets and stuff (and the stable for the nativity, by the way) and donates them for the craft show and silent auction our church has at it's harvest festival (that's where this is actually going).

Anyway, thanks for the advice, though. I may give a try to using a wash on my next couple carvings (I've got a few Halloween type ideas floating around in my head, and of course the inevitable gaggle of Santa's that need to get thought about.).

Thanks again!

[Bob K.]

I think you made a great effort and I agree with Donna. I'm sure the church will really appreciate it.

[luscher]

you are a very generous soul, to part with the fruit of your labors

the fact that you have trouble seeing a project as 'finished' (not necessarily a bad thing) coupled with the opportunity to make a new nativity every year sounds like a perfect situation : you have to complete one every year and part with it (projects don't get any more complete than that), and each year you have a completed project similar to previous years, which can be photographed and compared annually (by you alone)

looking back every so often and seeing the progress we've made is a hugely encouraging and rewarding experience

congratulations on a fine job

[Deraj828]

Very nice! I like to see nativity ideas, I'm hoping to try my hand at one before December gets here. I'll probably take a wack at the one in Gene's videos this year, since I still have no idea how to carve something out of my head.

Man, painted and all. Look at you being all multi-talented.

[Midnight Carver]

It looks good! I'm sure the church will appreciate it and I hope it does well too. Thanks for sharing

Eric

[voluminous-viking]

I wish I could do that, too, come up with something out of my head. This wasn't an original pattern. It's my rendition of one that came from the Woodworkers's Institute website. Here's the URL if anyone wants to give it a wack.

Carve a Christmas Nativity Scene - The Woodworkers Institute

[Big Barn]

I like the idea of making a new one each year just to prove to yourself how you are improving. You could always give the new one to the church & ask them to raffle off the prior years carving?