Paint edge-paint it, or burn it? Pics attached.

[ABitoSlo]

I'm almost there, but panicked on the edges. In the photos are unpainted lines between the orange and blue. These are pretty fine lines for me - the whole Odie is only 4+ inches tall. You can see also where I painted over areas I didn't want to also, like on the patch is a sploch of blue.

The area between the sleeves and pockets I shaved off blue 'cause it should not have been there. What's best, leave as flesh, paint some shade of orange?

On the white edges between bibs and shirt and around patches, and front edge where the pants meet the shoes, should I stop here and hit the edges with a burner pen then finish paint?

The the top of the beard (shaved the paint off that too) see the dark area just under the mustache? The cross-grain went very dark compared to the rest of the beard.

[Claude]

Lynn uses a burner to burn in the areas between different colors of paint (he does this before painting...). I don't have a burner, so I just give the carving a coat of satin water-based varnish after I wash it. On end grain, I sometimes put on 3 or 4 coats of the varnish. Then, when I paint it, the colors don't soak in and wick into areas where I don't want them. Makes it relatively easy to paint right up to another color.

Claude

[sappy]

This is just a thought, don't know if it will help. How about adding just a little color (burnt umber maybe) to some oil or varnish and coating this piece? I've read where others have done this for the effect of antiquing, but it would also color bare wood spots. Really like your little carving!

[Donna_T]

Hi,
I prefer to paint the edges to match the item. The edges of the overalls should be blue--because that's what they are the edges of--not the shirt. I sometimes go back over edges 2-3 times before I get them clean and neat with all bare wood covered with paint.

Instead of burning a line between two colors, I sometimes take the tip of my knife and outline the areas. For instance, I might outline the patch, outline the bib overalls, the cuffs of the shirt, etc. so that the colors don't bleed into the adjoining color. Another tactic is to spray or dunk your carving in water before painting. Wet wood doesn't seem to let colors bleed as much as dry wood.

I have used a woodburner to make the outline, but when I use this method, I make sure the burner is turned down so low that it doesn't leave any dark--just compresses a line in the wood. It's basically the same as cutting a line in it.

Looks like you've got a good start on the painting project. Good carving!

Donna_T

[ABitoSlo]

Hmmm, I don't have varnish, and didn't start with that, so maybe for the next one. On this I think I'll try to compress the edges of the blue jeans a bit (for lack of a wood burner) and that might help clean the edges a little also. I've got most of the cuts in place now.

Then wet the areas to paint and plan on at least a couple coats until I get them to sorta match?

[Midnight Carver]

I'm certainly not the best painter, but here are a few things I have luck with.
As Donna suggested, I take a knife and put a stop cut where I don't want colors to bleed.
I paint the areas I'm most worried about first, like the edge of the overalls before the shirt. Then if I slip with the paint I can let it dry, then carve it off. Make sure it is dry before carving it or you will just smear the paint.
Even within each color, I paint the trouble areas before the main parts. For example, I would paint the edge of the patch area first, then paint the surrounding area.

Eric

[ABitoSlo]

Oooops. I should have thought to do the trouble areas first....Thanks MC.