Eat,Sleep,Carve

[wade clark]

Colin,
Incredible carving!
If that's you in the chair behind it, You really are a natural! All kidding aside, wonderful work!
Wade

[Kenny_S]

Another OUTSTANDING "Woodspirit" Colin. What stain did you use and what do you usually use for protectant?

[Lightningbolt]

Colin; Another great woodspirit and it appears to be directly in someones yard where a lot of people will enjoy it for years. You remind me of the fisherman whose philosophy is, "Big bait & big hooks equals big fish". Most of your carvings seem to be by means of big chisels & big trees which equals BIG woodspirits! You think big and I love it!

By the way, I recently bought me a gallon of Sikkens Cetol 1 & Cetol 23 Plus which you reccomended in your article. I went with the color of cedar and together it set me back $107.00/U.S. That is some expensive stuff but it seems to have been working well for you over the years so I just had to have it.
Now I've just gotta find the right BIG tree for that first "experiment". From the archives I found that you reccomended doing it in the heat of summer for the best curing possible so time is getting close! Meantime, I've put a little of each finish into tiny half pint cans for use on some of my walking stick woodspirits. The Cetol 1 looks great on them too!

[Colin-Partridge]

Thanks guys for all the nice comments you guys are the best. To answer some of the questions you have directed. Susan there is never any guarantee that the tree wont die. It depends on the state of the tree when you carve it. Most of the tree's I do are trees that people are going to take down anyway. They are always willing to take the chance that the tree wont die, and if it does then just cut it off. Some tree's are hardier than others with your hardwood being more delicate than the pines and spruces. Maples and Oaks are probably the least hardy of all the trees thats why you seldom see them live over a hundred years. The tree I am doing for this customer are Austrian Pine they really wanted to keep the tree's if possible but if not wanted me to cut them off and do the carving. These tree's were really healthy so I think that they will survive no problem. As for weeping it can be a bit of a problem that sap can sometimes leak from the carving. If so I am experimenting trying to clean it up when it finally stops weeping these dont seem to be doing too badly.
As for sealing the carving I first use a coat of Deft and let that dry. I then apply a coat of Sikkens Cetol 1 leave it for 24 hours then give it a coat of Cetol 23 leave it 48 hours and then give it a final coat of 23. Yes I pay over $120 for a gallon of each but to me it is well worth it. It is the best stain I have ever used and the only stain I use on my carvings. BTW Sikkens has many other colors such as Butternut, Teak, Maple, etc.
I do think big and I love big carvings I like to be able to move around the carvings and also I get to do them outside. Not only that I am leaving my legacy those carvings will be long after I am gone.
Again thanks for all the nice words I really enjoy being part of this carving family.
Colin

[squbrigg]

Fantastic work my friend. That face will certainly liven up the neighbourhood! Wink Keep up the good work and enjoyment.

Bob

[Colin-Partridge]

Well gang just got back from finishing up the two carvings the customers are absolutly thrilled with the finished product. These carvings are about 6 to 7 feet tall and they sit on each side of the garden in front of the residence. In answer to some of the questions the carvings shouldnt hurt the trees and time will only tell but they were going to take the trees down and have the carvings done in them anyway. I use Sikkens one coat of Cetol 1 and two coats of Cetrol 23. I seal the carving before staining with Deft. I know Sikkens is expensive but to me it out lasts any other stain 4 times over. I have included pictures of the finished carvings. Looks like I have two more to start next week so I will keep you posted on progress
Colin

[Colin-Partridge]

Opps sorry gang sometimes I can post to the thread and sometimes I cant, this time I couldnt so I put them in the woodspirit album
Colin

[Irish]

Colin,

Last evening, just as I was headed off to bed I stopped over here to check out the forum. Found you new post and went to the gallery to see you newest photos ... OK, so I'm sitting at my computer thinking "Oh-AH-OH" when my beloved hubby, Michael, walks behind me. Now I had mention to him that your were carving live trees and showing your work on the forum but he hadn't seen it yet.

This hand DROPS onto my shoulder and right into my ears I hear in this very loud deep voice, "How Did He Do That!!!"

Now my MIchael has lived with this "Stuff" for years and years, it's not easy to impress him and it sure is not easy to just stop him dead in his tracks. Your work did both last night. Thank you for the grin you gave me for my hubbys reactions!

Susan

[Callynne]

Great job Colin, I just bet they were thrilled to have your wonderful spirits in their yard!! You're making it harder and harder for me to work on these Santas when I hear that spirit in my garage, whispering my name. I hope he turns out half as well as yours do!!! Thanks for sharing! Callynne

[Lightningbolt]

Thanks for posting the sequence of a woodspirit as it's being carved which is more like reading a whole book instead of just the last chapter. Seeing the drama and plot develop right before our eyes is always a more exciting way to see the ending of another great woodspirit-in-the-tree story!!

And geez, those Austrian pines sure seem to be a very knotty tree and I mean all the way to the ground. But from the final result it doesn't appear to hurt the powerful final finish in any way. Amazing.