[Ed Redwine]

Hi Kathy: First my Avatar.... it is an oil caricature of me with knife and wood in hand. It was painted as a retirement gift from Cessna where I retired as a Technical Writer. There are signatures and well wishes from the 60+ people in the department all around the background.

Now, I scanned two photos, one of the Wolf mask patterned after Jeff's work and an original piece I did as a commission. This buffalo headdress piece is very big, standing about 2 ft tall. It paid for a set of Henry Taylor tools that are among my favorite tools.

I would love to take a seminar from Mark. I've done some of his Santas and wood spirits and really like his style. Looking forward to seeing your finished Indian.

Ed

[Mottles]

Hi Ed, First of all Thank you, for sharing your 'Indian With Wolf Mask' it turned out really great! Your 'Buffalo Headdress Piece' is outstanding and looks like it was a lot of work. Work well done! CONGRATULATIONS on getting that as a commission! I have a small set of 8 Henry Taylor Acorn tools I put together. I like them a lot too!

Getting back to your Buffalo Headdress did you carve the horns separately? What is your favorite finishing method? If painted do you like Artist oils, Artist Acrylic or Craft Acrylic? If left natural what products do you like to use for the finish. Also, what is your sanding method? I also, notice that some carver's like to create a clay model of the planned carving. Do you do the same?

If I've asked to many questions just say so! LOL
I have been carving for a little over two years now. I'm still a beginner and as a beginner I'm trying to learn.

Ed, when I was looking at your Avatar I thought it looked like a painting. But being so small it was hard to tell for sure. I love the technique the artist used and the colors are just great. What a nice retirement gift and I'm sure meant a lot to you with all the signature's and well wishes. Best kind of gift!

Hope you had a super 4th,
Kathy

[Ed Redwine]

Hi Kathy: Concerning my 4th. Sorry to say the charcoal was too hot and I scorched the meat. Edible but a bit dry. LOL.

Now... yes the buffalo horns were carved separately. Actually the piece is basswood but the horns are walnut. This piece was accented with oil paints (Indian Red, white, burnt umber) The flesh was left without color but an application of Danish oil brought out the flesh color. The whole things was sealed later with Deft satin polyurethane.

Most of my carvings are much smaller. Acrylics are favored because they lend to washes easily and dry quickly. I like Gargac's method of using BLO then sealing with Deft but others don't like using oil.

I try not to do much sanding if possible. Mainly to removed blemishes and fuzzies. If sandpaper is used at all, I wind up with 400 grit.

Hope this has given you a small insight as to my methods. There are many ways but these worked for me.
Have a great weekend.

Ed

[Mottles]

Hi Ed: What's BBQ without a little scorching! LOL

The Buffalo horns look really great and I would think it's much easier to carve them separately for sure. Thank you, for letting me know your painting technique. I like Mark's way of painting and finishing his carvings too.

I sand all my carvings, when I first began caving I only used 220 grit and didn't get the smoothness I was looking for. Here recently I have talked with members on this board and found I should be using more than one grit. So now I sand with 220 then finish with 400 grit.

I go between power carving and mallett and palm. Usually using all for each of my carvings. I've run into problems with fuzzy's and powercarving. I've have received some good advice from the Powercarving Forum.

Thank you, again Ed,
Kathy

[Mottles]

UPDATE

Hi All, I've started to do the base painting on my 'Untitled Indian'.
After sanding down the carving I applied Jeff Phardes mixture of Bartley Gel Varnish and Turps. Applied the mixture to the whole carving.

I begain painting using oil paints and some of the Phardes mixture as a vehicle for the oil paints. As you can see I'm just beginning with the painting process but thought you might like to see it. The colors I'm using are the base colors and will be brought up to middle and light values and tones.

As I'm leaning toward this being a raccoon that will be the color direction for the animal. I will go back in and make the Indians hair color a dark dray with silver highlights. It will be fun creating that all important black Mask they have.

I felt this poor Indian should own something of value so I've begun to paint in a silver 'gorget' (crescent shape below chin). No telling how this old Indian came upon such a prize I can only imagin maybe in battle.

Enough for now, as always I appreciate hearing your thoughts. Will update when I get further along.
Kathy

[doris]

hi kathy, you are far gone since i looked last time :-) it is fun that you share how you paint. i always love see how others do their different works, and painting process i have not seen yet :-) ... i like the idea with the gorget it puts empahsis on the fur collar of his coat, and balances the composition, since the headdress is dominant (as i believe you want have it)... just to see if i understood your explanation correctly : does this mean you paint the darkest values as underneath colors, and make them lighter and lighter in the following paint layers ?

[Iowa Carver]

Nice job Kathy. Looking forward to seeing it finished and painted.

Corey

[Mottles]

Hello Doris and Corey thank you, both

Doris, you are correct! I paint my carvings as if they were a canvas painting. My training began in oil and as you probably know you would begin painting dark to light. I think it's much easier to see values by beginning this way. You also build depth in this way. So what I have so far I would consider under-painting.
Hope this helps, This doesn't meant that I won't go back and adjust dark and light color values. Painting is always adjusting for effect.
Kathy

[Sharon of the Dell]

Kathy, he looks real good so far.I like his lips, they look like Steven Tylers from Aerosmith. Thanks for showing how you do it.....sharon

[Mottles]

Thank you, Sharon I appreciate your comments very much.
Kathy