[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Originally Posted by Treever

I had the wrong kind of alcohol pictured in my mind. I don't think Scotch helps a body carve any better!

No...but it might help you "think" you are the greatest carver ha ha

[Thomp]

I like the scotch occasionaly as well trevor, although the yeller coloring stays in the carving, but hey if it dosent help the carving it dose help get over the loss of a good start..and just get better wood,. i hate it when things dont cooperate and you hit a knot or a void or a resin pocket nails or bullits in the wo0od. but the scotch usualy winds up just to be a headake the next day...


like Irishman,
i have used super glue to stabilize the areas of final details as well as thinned blo and just carve right through it, it works bit if the blo is'nt cured its a sticky mess...

[Eddy Smiles]

This afternoon I finished chipping away at this old bear. There comes a time when discretion is the better part of valor and it's best to leave well enough alone!

So I started thinking about how I was going to apply a finish on this old critter. obviously, my first choice, a wash, would literally turn out to be a wash because of the mottled appearance of the wood.

Then I remember you all discussing using a water and white glue mixture as a sander sealer on another thread the other day so that's direction that I took. As you can see, the glue was still wet when I took this photo. In fact, I applied two coats because it looked like I thinned out the first coat a little too much.

This has really been an interesting project because of the new techniques that I've tried.... a good learning experience. On other carvings that have turned out decent from the git-go I've been hesitant about trying different things for fear of runining a perfectly good piece of work. With this bear being so honery and with nothing to lose it's been fun having no fear of trying things outside the box!

Now we'll see how it takes paint!

[Eddy Smiles]

Because of all that went on this weekend I stayed home and had a little time to finish the bear. I really didn't feel like doing much and painting was kind of therapeutic. I'd have preferred a wash finish but with the wood the way it was I applied the acrylic paint at full strength and then gave it a coat of matt varnish. I decide to give it a karate uniform with a white gi and a black obi. I'm halfway pleased the way it turned out and will probably do one or two more as gifts. I was going to give this one away but my biggest critic and supporter grabbed it up and put it on the bookcase before I had a chance to decide on who to give it to...

[Fitz]

I'm glad you posted the pic Eddy, I used to do a lot of oil painting in fact with another class under my belt I'll be a certified Bob Ross instructor...... anyway I was a self taught painter for a few years and sometimes found that an occaisional rum and coke would help my creative imagination...... hhhhmmmm ...... I just couldn't imagine picking up a knife and a piece of wood after becoming creative so I'm happy to see that you spray the wood with the mixture.... I'll have to give that one a try

[Joy]

Cute bear, Eddy. I was going to give you a hard time because he wasn't smiling....but I guess it is okay since you made him a martial arts "guy"