Out out the rut....thank goodness.

[Cottonwood]

One can find themselves in a rut if you are carving Santa Face Ornaments year after year. There is just so much you can do to a traditional Santa face to make it different from the other and still have it appear to be Santa.
Elves on the other hand offer the opportunity to make a lot of changes and as long as they have pointy ears you can let your imagination run wild. This can boost your enthusiasm, creativity and skill.
Here is Ditsy, Santa's protective head gear testing elf. He has just tested a bicycle helmet that has been found defective. Thanks for your services, Ditsy. Hope your head clears shortly.

[draft51@aol.com]

Beautiful job on the Elfs, I love the facial expression and your painting is tops. Haven't seen anything like this in a while. Good job. fred k

[brent]

It looks so lifelike.

[tnartist05]

I think the test went ok but? Might have left the elf just alittle mixed up!! I think too,he might have gotten into some egg nog that knocked his eyes off some. lol

Boy this is one neat carving Millard!!

Forrest

[Claude]

Beautiful work, Millard! Very life-like...

Claude

[Donsexton]

Very cool looks great thank you for posting a picture.

[johncarves]

Beautiful and creative work, outstanding carving and fantastic painting!
What type wood & what type/technique paint?

[carver33]

Fantastic job. Wonderful expression, and the painting is superb.

[AlArchie]

Very interesting little elf! Well done and quite unique.

Al

[Cottonwood]

I'm glad you all like Ditsy.
John, the wood is bass wood and the painting tech. and method is basically Mark Gargac's with some of my own modifications. A few years ago Mark was kind enough to tell me in detail how he finished his carvings and I have stuck with his basic procedure ever since.