new stuff, and common problem (painting?)

[Thor]

I've been working on about 6 things like everyone else, and have a problem that comes up a lot....to paint or not to paint...

This is a small version of what I'll carve on a headboard of a bed this winter, when I get the wood, and I wanted to work out some design details. The big one will be so much bigger that it is hardly relevant, but it has helped me see it.

Anyway, the small one is in basswood, and is not done yet...details not finished at all, but I'm almost to the point where I have to decide whether I'm going to paint it or not. Basswood isn't that terrific a wood to oil, and paint really can be used for exciting results, but as I carve it, I just can't see color. This piece is intended to just be decorative and hang on the wall.

Opinions? Susan, your insight here would really be helpful.
The other picture is just 6 walking sticks I have done. Making them all stand up and look at the camera was like photographing kittens.
Thor

[AlArchie]

Thor, here is an idea as far as painting or not.......I've taken two seminars on relief and pyrography from Fred and Elaine Stenman, now, and they color all their relief carvings with watered down acrylic washes. I have used the watercolor option on several canes now and have had good results, but the priciples are the same. They use pyrography to outline a lot of the relief carvings, for both emphasis, and more importantly to contain the colored washes. That charred line seems to contain each color in it's own domain.

You could use the watercolor or acrylic wash for your headboard, but would need to find some way of restricting "bleed-over" when painting on raw basswood, as the water based colors tend to do that. What I would suggest is to, very judiciously, apply a sealer to the areas you don't want colored, then do the watercolors. They would not adhere to or penetrate the sealed areas, and if there was some overlap, could be removed by simply rubbing with a damp rag.

Al

[Ashbys]

Thor,
Nice work! The tree will be wonderful on the bed and the staffs are great ! I like the owl. very nice.

Ok , since you asked. Personally one of the reasons I dislike basswood is it has no real characture. It carves great , can be finished a lot of ways , but with no grain or defination it always seems very bland to me.

I agree with AL, woodburning on basswood gives it depth, that without burning the relief undercuts have to be added deeply to give it enough shadow to really bring out the carving. Personally, I think if you paint the tree that you will be much more pleased with the result especially over time. But you could always do the two step approach. Finish it with a prestain, then look at the finish , the prestain will show you two points, first did it friz? And second is it really clean? Bass wood shows almost every overcut , the prestain won't hurt you no mater what finish you decide, but it does help in assessing the work. Then you might decide a simple stain finish , and then the prestain will help keep the stain from being heavy and light which the basswood can often do.

At least might be something to think about. Then if you decide later you wish to paint , you still can.

Ash

[Kenny_S]

Depends on the wood used in the carving. Anything other than basswood or aspen, leave natural.Basswood and aspen can be stained but painting them with a light wash may be your answer. I see walnut and butternut painted and it is a shame to hide the beauty of the wood.

JMHO

BTW, love you relief of the bird and tree.

[Canopener]

Thor,
I like it. What I am seeing for paint is something along the lines of faux/antique painting furniture. Lay on some kind of white wash as a base, then paint, then a bit of dark antique medium to highlight the carving, esp the balls. You can make the headboard as light or dark as you like to fit the room.
There is an interesting article on antiquing in issue #30 Spring 2005. His stuff is kind of dark for a room but I like the effect. Have fun.
Jim

[Thor]

Thanks for your comments. You have helped me decide to stain it with color afterall, and I'll try the suggestion of the sealer first so that I may have a little more control over bleeding. I'll repost a picture into the gallery when I finish it.
Thanks again,
Thor

[Donna_T]

Hey Thor,
I love the carving and think it would make an absolutely georgeous headboard. I second the "wash" or light color staining of it--depending on the other wood furniture in the room. I like the whitewashed look (pickled) that is done over lightly tinted carving. I'd even do the circle trim to match the main color in your room--and pick complementary colors for the rest.

In addition to sealing the part you don't want to pick up color, you can also try a stopcut that outlines the carved area--it doesn't have to be very deep to stop color from bleeding onto the adjoining area. I've also had good luck by lightly misting the whole carving before painting and then the color goes on much easier.

Are you going to let us see the finished product?

Donna T

[Callynne]

Thor, the carving is beautiful and I agree that light washes of color would make it even more so....but....I'd sure be tempted to finish it just wood color.

Having refinished a lot of furniture (in my pre-carving days!), I often marveled at how, what I thought was a low grain piece of furniture, came to life with a very light coat of stain and Formby's tung oil satin finish (my favorite!)

I've seen some beautiful grain in some basswood so I'm thinking, maybe what you could do is a little experiment on the back of your panel. You could just put some varnish on the back, see if the woodgrain shows up, if it does on the back it certainly will on the front.

To make things more distinct, why couldn't you put a very, very light coat of a light colored stain on the panel? When I stained things I used a piece of cheesecloth, applied a little bit of stain on the wood and wiped the excess off immediately. I didn't paint the whole thing then wipe off the excess as they recommended, made it way too dark doing it that way.

What I'm thinking, is the stain would go into the edges of your design and make it more distinct looking.

Whatever you decide, it's going to be one beautiful panel and an unbelievably beautiful headboard, I can't wait to see it all done up! Thanks for sharing both the panel and your neat walking sticks! Callynne

[Nancy-G]

Thor - That relief is really beautiful. I can't imagine doing anything like that and something as large as a headboard is staggering.

Are you planning on doing the lamination of the wood yourself? Dale Heinecke in Wisc would do it but then there's shipment .......

[Thor]

HI Nancy,
Thanks. I'm still working on the tree, and I hope to have the outside pattern (the part that looks like a frame) gilded by the end of the weekend. Then I have decided to use water color washes for color and a black background. It will at least be dramatic.

I think the bed will remain just wood with an oil finish so it will be easy to take care of. Time will tell. I hope to go get the wood next week.

I do intend on glueing up the pieces myself. I have had some experience doing it, but not this large, and have pipe clamps. I may brace it from behind as well for extra strength since it will be basswood, but it will be thick wood.
Thor