Two More Woodspirits

[MackTheKnife]

Meet Sky-Seeker and Wet-Foot. Both are carved from 6" long sections of 1-1/4" birch dowel. I'm not particularly happy with the finish on Sky-Seeker. It was the first time I'd used that particular stain, and I got it too dark. Also there was a weird section of grain just below his mouth that not only was tough to carve without splitting and chipping but also didn't absorb the stain the same as the rest of the piece. It's a lot more apparent in person than in the photos.

Wet-Foot I painted with a very thin wash of burnt sienna. Both are finished with hot-applied neutral shoe polish.

As always comments and suggestions for improvement, in both carving and finishing, are appreciated.

Bob

[skidmore]

They look great.

Forrest of NC

[Iowa Carver]

Bob, nice work. I like the expression you put on these two guys. I also like the painted eyes vs stained remainder. Good ones!

Corey

[Tom-H]

Bob, Great stuff there. I really like the dark finish, and the carving is fresh and crisp. Keep it up.

Tom H

[MackTheKnife]

Thanks, Forrest of NC.

Corey, yeah, I think the painted eyes help bring out the rest of the carving as well. I'm going to have to study your technique on the beard and hair. I really like that.

Thanks, Tom. You know, given your penchant for carving small, you really ought to try a woodspirit on a twig! Seriously, I think you could do it. Talk about unique!

Bob

[Irishman]

Nice looking faces, very clean cuts so the features really stand out for such a small face. The eyes stand out very well. Something to think about...one of the carvers here told me to change one of my blue eyed carvings to brown as I was using mostly shades of browns on the carving. The change had improved the carving as the eyes melded well with the rest of the colors. On yours however, the eyes look really good. Something to think about for your next carving.
Patrick

[MackTheKnife]

Thanks, Patrick! I'll give the brown eyes a try. What was that song? Don't that make my blue eyes brown? Or was it the other way around?

Bob

[tucker1931]

Bob, I really like them both, and the eyes, man, the eyes just jump right out at you. Brown eyes are good as well but they just don't pop like the blue ones you've posted. Great stuff.
Cliff

[Lightningbolt]

Nice job on the spirits! I've never used my dowel rods but that's a good idea. I especially like the style that you used for cutting in the hair and beard which is slightly new to me. Nice side profile on the nose too... an area that I'm always trying to improve upon in my own carving. Thanks for sharing!

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Looks great Bob, as Patrick mentioned on the eyes I will say what I feel, the bright blue draws to much attention and takes your eyes off the carving as a whole.

Are you giving that little knife a work out or did you reserve it to the spoons only?
Carl