Smiling Woodspirit

[Irishman]

Carved another big fellow with a happy face. I tried a wood stain for something different as the poplar wood is very pale. Now that I see the pictures, I have to go back and put some deeper color around his face and lips as the stained whiskers and hair makes him even paler looking.. Oh well, it was an experiment. The log is approximately 5 feet tall.

I now have to tackle a sign for an oyster farmer. I've never carved a professional sign before. So far I've carved out some oyster shells to mount on the carving and I'm now attempting to relief a dory, some celtic knots, and then the lettering.
Patrick

[gene-messer]

Thats a good one Patrick .. put's a smile on your face ..

Good job ..

Gene

[windsong]

Patrick
That is one nice wood spirit and i think the big smile set him off.I like the stain job to .GREAT JOB!!!!
windsong

[tucker1931]

Hey Patrick, another winner for sure. If I were you I'd contact Colgate, maybe they could use hime in one of their tooth paste commercials.
Cliff

[doris]

nice happy spirit.. your smiles are definitely getting a style of your own... may i ask what the dark brown dots between his eyes are ? do you want add glasses ?

[Irishman]

Hello and thanks everyone.

Doris, the spots come from the core in the wood. Its a reddish brown color that I struck when I started to recess the eyes. I contemplated painting the face to hide the bloches but resigned myself to the fact that raw wood has its own unique look so why fight it.
I have since done work on his lip and painted it as well. It stood out to much with his perly whites.

Originally Posted by doris

nice happy spirit.. your smiles are definitely getting a style of your own... may i ask what the dark brown dots between his eyes are ? do you want add glasses ?

[tnartist05]

Hes well carved Patrick,poplar isnt a hard wood plus it has mixed colors in it which is giving you the problems. If your staining isnt hiding certain things about him,Id paint the whole carving. The old wormy filled with holes and groved out wood I carve is why I also paint it,which hides all that. The carving itself is very well done! Great job on that.Forrest

[Irishman]

I thought of staining his face Forrest but I lack any variety of stains in my shop other than the color you see in his hair and whiskers. I would like to try the sikkens (spelling) I see some of the chainsaw carvers use. Here is a close up of that color between the eyes.

Originally Posted by tnartist05

Hes well carved Patrick,poplar isnt a hard wood plus it has mixed colors in it which is giving you the problems. If your staining isnt hiding certain things about him,Id paint the whole carving. The old wormy filled with holes and groved out wood I carve is why I also paint it,which hides all that. The carving itself is very well done! Great job on that.Forrest

[Al_Hillis]

Well done Patrick , If it were my carving I think I would leave well enough alone, If it aint broke don't fix it.
I have just started to carve 5 elm trees that sucomed to dutch elm Am working on the first one now. started with chisels but found the wood very hard. now am waiting for my chain saw to return, (son borrowed it , you all no how that goes)
I cut all the stumps off at the five foot level.
Thanks for posting the pics as now I have a reference

[Irishman]

Thanks Al - I've never carved Elm before. your pics when your done. If your using this guy as a reference, you might want to take the teeth in an inch as he has a slight overbite. He's staying as is as I just sealed him. Good luck with getting that chainsaw back

Patrick

Originally Posted by slather

Well done Patrick , If it were my carving I think I would leave well enough alone, If it aint broke don't fix it.
I have just started to carve 5 elm trees that sucomed to dutch elm Am working on the first one now. started with chisels but found the wood very hard. now am waiting for my chain saw to return, (son borrowed it , you all no how that goes)
I cut all the stumps off at the five foot level.
Thanks for posting the pics as now I have a reference