Santas then, Santas now

[Rezbar]

Nine months ago I started woodcarving. At the beginning, chip-carving for a start, then, plane carving, caricature and eventually relief carving. I carved also Santas ornaments. My first two are in pics 1 and 2. Recently, I carved some more (pic 3). I think a big improvement. But I still lack painting skills. Looking at the works in the "Holiday" section, I find very accurate Santas with a painting that renders the shadows and the depth of the face and beard. How can I get that level?
Thank you for any tips you may give me.
Dino

[toycarver]

Try basecoating the beard in gray, let dry, then dry brush white over it. For the rosie cheeks, base coat flesh (like you have done) ...and what I do (there are many ways) ;
1...wet a good quality angle brush, and then take most of the water out by placing on paper towel ('til the shine is gone)..
2. then dip the back edge in the flesh color and front tip/edge in the red.
3. On your palete paper or plastic lid or sheet of glass, blend the colors of the brush. You want the color of the red to meet with the flesh (not intermixed).
This part takes practice. What you are looking for is not to leave a hard line of red once it's applied to the cheek. Put the tip of the brush down along the bottom edge of the cheek and the flesh color should be higher on the cheek. Then brush the paint on the cheeks and nose by a mostly guided steady movement in one direction.
Hope this helps, much easier to show in person than write out directions. There's no doubt a video 'somewhere'..

P.S... you have made nice progess in your carving ability!

[Blake Lunsford]

Dino,

Great progress in 9 months! Stay with it and you will be amazed where you are in another year. I have just a few recommendations. Make sure you are looking at all the carving material you can find on the subjects you like to carve. Study other carver's techniques, ask questions, and try some of the step by step instruction that you will find in the books and magazines. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. Other carvers are some of the best sources of knowledge that you will find. Attend some shows, seek out carvers that carve things you like, and ask questions about their style and technique. You will find out how generous people really are with their techniques.

As for painting, a good source would be to go on Lynn's blog and watch some of his videos on painting. He has a great style and can really give some helpful hints on blending paints. Also, as you get more details in your carvings, you may want to change to doing acrylic washes where you mix the acrylic paint with water to thin it down. This will give it a more stained look instead of of being a solid paint and will allow you to see the wood grain through the paint. Also, shading with darker colors help folds, wrinkles, and deep cuts have that shadowing effect that you look for in santas and caricatures.

Your progress is coming along nicely. Keep up the good work and we look forward to seeing more from you!

Blake

[Patrick]

I'm just a beginner Dino but it looks to me like you're making grand progress. Hope I'm approaching your level in nine months.

Looks like Kris and Blake have made some good suggestions that I need to pay attention to also.

Pat

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Lookin good Dino!

Dave

[Rezbar]

I have a question for Kris. what does "then dry brush white over it" mean? Should I put white color without dipping the brush in water? Or else?
Dino

[Mark Dellinger]

Dino,
Nice Job. You are doing very well, keep up the good work.

Safe Carving and God Bless,

Mark

[toycarver]

I PM'd you but the answer is yes, dry brush is just like it sounds. ..do not get wet....use an old brush that is a bit stiff. Going over the dry grey or grey/blue with wet white will also produce a nice look.

[gene-messer]

Hey i like them .. Good job
Gene

[whittlewomen]

The best suggestion I can make is put your eyes looking to the side. Yours look like fried eggs!
Look at people's eyes, they don't show white under the pupils. Spend some time looking at the other people's carvings on this site......most are quite good.

Another thing, if you put two two-by-fours on someon's ears and their nose, you would have almost a right angle. The face is not flat. Get that perspective and your faces will improve over-night.
Sharon