Watercolors for finishing?

[voluminous-viking]

I've just finished carving a few 5-minute-wizards-turned-Santas (pictures coming) and am thinking about painting them. I've heard a lot from my scrollsawing brother about using washes made out of food coloring and water to paint them. I was wondering, though, if watercolors would work just as well (you know, the cheap little splotches of color you get in elementary school?). He hadn't tried and I thought I would just throw the question out here.

If it works, I have a Celtic Cross (again, finished picture coming) I'd like to use them on as well.

On a side note, and totally off my own topic, chunks of that Celtic cross tended to pop off while I was making stop cuts for the knots. For example, I'd make a stop cut to make a ridge, and the piece would just splinter off, like it was on the grain. Any idea on how to stop that? Or at least fix spots where that happens?

Thanks guys!

[Dileon]

yes you can but you have to seal it...as watercolor is just pigment, it can run or rub off. I would not use food color, I mean you can,... but most paint is cheap. A very sharp tool, and lots of practice will help, .. until then glue it back on with super glue.

[voluminous-viking]

Thanks for that.

Superglue's a thought, but usually what comes off just turns to splinted and flakes, not a whole piece. It's probably got something to do with the grain. I guess this sort of thing comes with practice. It took me most of a year to get a 5 minute wizard to come put with a nose.

Anyways, thanks again!!

[gene-messer]

Actually water colors would work .. but when you thin down acrylics like water colors .. they work so much better .. water colors seem to be too thin as I have used them myself . you have a hard time keeping them from running into other areas also .. you can use them .. but acrylics watered down look so much better

Gene

[chuckbolton]

i use both watercolors and acrylics-- i use the watercolors on my relief carvings and acrylics on everything else-- i like the way the watercolors bleed together as my reliefs are of buildings and natural life scenes -- and the acrylics on my in the round pieces as the colors are more distinct-- ive use each one on the other type of carving and dont care for the results that i get-- that being said-- i bought some cheap watercolors and was NOT satisfied with those results-- the colors just dont mix as well-- but i do use most any acrylic that i find-- regardless of price--

on rereading this-- i hope it makes some sense-- i guess the thing is-- do what you are the happiest with

[Thor]

I use watercolors as well as gouache. The watercolors are transparent colors and make a better wash that will show the grain through, and the gouache is opaque and will be more of a solid color on the wood. As mentioned, you must seal them or they won't be permanent.

The benefit of using watercolors as opposed to acrylics is that you may continue to add and blend colors after they have dried. You may even remove some of it after it has dried to a certain extent. The acrylics dry and that's it. Your pallet also is usable after it has dried, so that when you have blended the perfect color, and you have to spend a day running errands before finishing the piece, the paint can be wet down again and work. With all of my interruptions, I like that quality.
I use different ways of sealing the paint, from boiled linseed oil to spray varnish, depending on what I am working on.
Christina

[Paul_Guraedy]

I use and like watercolors. I do believe that they are harder to learn to control than are acrylics but, then woodcarving has a learning curve also. Although I enjoy the advantages listed in the posts below (or above depending on how you have your page displayed), perhaps the best effect, for me, is the way the colors mix and soften the edges. Not many straight lines in nature and not many places where colors have a definite edge. Perhaps I would change my mind if I did other types of carvings; but whether relief or in-the-round, I am a wildlife carver.

When I first started painting with watercolors I bought the cheapest I could find. John Engler, who started me in watercolor, pointed out that paint is cheap…especially in the quantity that I use. The major difference between cheap and expensive watercolor is the amount of pigment. More pigment equals more cost. I now stick with Winsor Newton Artist as my paint of choice. Not because it is superior to others; but, because experience with the same line has taught me what to expect when I mix them.

I am learning that painting my carvings need not be a dreaded task. It’s not as much fun as removing wood; but is becoming something that I actually enjoy.

Oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache….all have advantages and disadvantages. Each of us should determine the amount of time we are willing to spend to achieve the results that satisfy us. Very much like the choice we make with our woodcarving efforts.

[chuckbolton]

paul is 100% right-- if you want to learn to paint with WC-- take a John Engler class-- i could go on but wont-- hes one of the finest instructors i know.

[voluminous-viking]

Here are some Santas and the Celtic Cross. I tried using watercolors on one of the Santas, but it looked, I guess, to watered down. I wanted the color a little darker. I ended up using acrylics.

These were the first Santas I've made that actually look presentable, and the Celtic Cross was my second shot at chip/relief carving (and it still needs a lot more work in the way of touch-up painting).

The last two (if these upload in the order I think they will) are just a couple others I'm working on that I thought I'd throw up while I'm here. One is another Santa on some presents. The other is the beginnings of Ebeneezer Scrooge. (All of the Santas and Scrooge are based on that 15 minute santa/5 minute wizard in the WCI Magazine. The Cross was a pattern in the magazine some time back. Just thought I'd cite my sources.)

Thanks for the input, though guys.

[Frank D]

Hi Voluminous,

Looking good. Painting is a special skill that I struggle with. I did learn to thin my acrylics to get a more translucent paint, it gives the grain a chance to show through. You can always add another coat if you want more color.
What kind of wood is that? Pine? That could be why you are having a problem with splintering. Have you tried basswood?

Frank D