[gene messer]

Mitchell .. I wish I could mess up like you did and get a great looking Santa like that ... What a great looking caricature .. Cant wait to see him painted ..

[Thomp]

Originally Posted by Mitchell

---snip---

Yes, Thomp, I do leave LOTS of knife marks on my carvings.....It's more a matter of laziness than anything. I MAY say that it's my "style" or that I do it on purpose, but quite frankly, it's just easier to leave them there! I'm joking of course - I just like to see the cuts and they (to me) make the work really look like it's carved.

I think I'm gonna carve another this afternoon.......not sure what it'll come out to be yet though! I like Hobos, Santas and Hillbillies as subjects, so it may be one of those.

Hey Mitchell, 1st, Great santa!...

no, its not that i think the carvings looks like the carver was lazy or it looks undone, its as much of a style as i have ever seen, and i do agree that leaving the chipped out cut marks definitely shows it was carved out of wood...
" once at sunday dinner 20 yrs ago. at grandmas house my 2 uncles were having a discussion about the same thing,
the uncles were brothers so it was all in the family, the younger brother showed the elder brother a elk he had carved as proud as could be of this 4-5 inch elk done natural finish. i think of butternut, it was as smooth as glass , there wasnt a distingusihable knife mark on it. the elder uncle said hey your not suppose to use sandpaper just a knife blade!, the younger said well i didnt use sandpaper its all using the knife, proudly, the elder said you better start leaving a few knife marks on them carvings so folks wont think of you as a lyer.. when you tell them you carved it, that one looks as its made of plastic.

i dont remember much of there conversations but that one, but its always replayed in my mind as im finishing up a carving,
guess i side with the younger uncle...

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Thats a good one Mitchell!

[Nancy_G]

Simply super work.........

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the ideas - and compliments.

I believe I'll try the hillbilly next (since that's something I'm comfortable with). I like John's idea with the shorts, glasses, camera, etc and that will get me out of my "comfort zone" - I'll try a version along those lines. One thing about my "style" - it does not look as good for bare extremities (arms and legs).

Right now I need to get these things that I've carved already painted. If I don't do them now, it WILL be months before I get back to them.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

hit the arms and legs (bare) and the face with a bit of sandpaper, smoothing a little makes a big difference! I use those foam center womens fingernail boards from wallyworld all the time anymore and cut thin strips off the side for tight spots.

[Thomp]

Mitchell,

unlike my uncles ill use fine sanding film,

I use the 3m brand, 320 to 2000? grit sanding film, cut it into strips 1/8th, to 1" wide or tapered strips and 10 inches long or so, bought at Michaels,

i guide the sanding film with my fore finger or thumb with slight feathered pressure, above the point needing attention.

Be warned thin strips like this (even though its fine grit) will cut tremendously fast if your applying too much pressure,, just feather it ,

if the strip fills up with wood just slap it on your jeans its clean again...

the flexible strip can be fed in between legs or arms of the charter and wrapped half way around them used this way
...
remember light touch with the pressure and keep aware it can cut lines if your not careful....

[Arnold Smith]

Looks good Mitchell,

Arnold

[Mark N. Akers]

Mitchell;
great job on the old guys,very good job on the painting.

[Mitchell]

I painted the latest two (man in the suit and Santa) yesterday. Hopefully I can get pictures and have them posted tonight.

I'm playing around with my painting/finishing techniques to see if I can learn anything new.