[Cut_Fingers]

Hey All,

This is an opinion based questions, so I know the answers will vary.

Currently, I am concentrating on my carving skills of NTR faces/head with a loooong way to go! I really have no painting skills and don't want to mess up my carvings with a bad painting job. I plan to working on my painting skills in the future, but my carving creativity is my #1 goal.

However, I am now left with a problem of plain basswood faces. What is a good method of getting a decent finish on them that would look like it was somewhat planned? Is there a stain or finish that would give them a darker color than raw basswood, which I could apply to the entire carving? Maybe which could even be painted over later. I guess I may be askign for a finish or a sealer.

Currently I have about 6 carved faces/heads about 2 or 3 inches tall unfinished.

signed - Hopelessly Unfinished

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Boiled Linseed Oil
Minwax oil based fruitwood stain (and many of the lighter colors).
Mineral oil/ oil
Sanding sealer
Armor all clear wood sealer (probably Thompson's as well).
Motor oil
Amongst others.

Some of them dry, some of them soak into the wood and appear to be dry. All will accept paint at a later time. Experiment to see what you like. I'm still looking. What I want is the look the Marv Kaisersatt gets (finishing, the carving part is WAY out of my league). Guess I could ask, but fiddling around is a lot of fun too.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Let's see if I got rid of the smilies ....

mineral oil/baby oil