Santa head patterns?

[nrscroller]

HI
I am going to go to our local carving club this fall and there is a member that makes little santa head ornaments that is flat across the back. Anyone have a pattern for these, he just draws his from scratch. They are almost like a relief carving
Thanks
Bill

[Bartster]

this months issue of wood carving illustrated has a article on the no-see um santa that can be changed 100 times to be made like you want it,

bart

[brianrickman]

I do Santa face magnets too. I don't even bother with the pencil these days.

I start with a stick of basswood, about 1/2" thick, 1 1/2" wide, and 3" - 4" long. I taper the top 1/3 of the top to make a hat. I leave a square below the hat for the face, and taper or round the bottom to make the beard. These days I usually carve a ball on the top of the hat, and also taper the front of the hat from bottom to top so that there is a brim.

Here's an attempt at a very basic pattern:

[brianrickman]

You can easily modify this basic pattern as you carve;

1. Make the brim of the hat cover the eyes
2. Make the hat taller or shorter,
3. Make the bottom of the beard round rather then pointed.
4. Make the beard or hat into a spiral
5. The facial details can be carved or just drawn on with a sharpie
6. Make the mouth open or closed, smiling or frowning
7. Glue in a bit of toothpick or pointed dowel for a really long nose
...