Last Ornament of the year!

GaryMc · #1 12-18-2005, 09:45 PM

I love carving ornaments, but I have carved too many this year, at least 30-40. Here is the last one, a branch Santa, take a look!
Merry Christmas!
GaryMc

Colin_Partridge · #2 12-18-2005, 10:16 PM

Gary just love him very original I am going to have to try some of those branch santa's.
Colin

Ron Davidson · #3 12-18-2005, 10:22 PM

Great carving Gary. How big diameter branch and what type of wood do you use most.

rick-in-seattle · #4 12-18-2005, 10:47 PM

Com'on Gary, you can never carve too many ornaments.
Nice carving, I painted a beard the same colors on a really big Santa.
(he has taken over my rocking chair)

Marci MN · #5 12-19-2005, 12:25 AM

I like that lil guy!!

Is it ok to ask how you get that look in your beards?

GaryMc · #6 12-19-2005, 04:50 AM

Hello and thanks for the comments!
The branch Santas are a lot of fun! I have been doing them in green Sycamore. I love the way it details and it doesn't crack much. The way I am doing the hair and beards is using a deep "u" gouge to give the hair/beard some countours ( not flat). and then coming back with small "V" tools to do the actual hair. Then I paint the whole beard/hair with dark paint, and come back over it using the dry brush technique with white "ala Tina toney". I am still working all that out, but it looks pretty good.
Thanks again!
GaryMc

Mark N. Akers · #7 12-19-2005, 05:21 AM

Gary:
Never say last before christmas, It never fails someone will come in 2 days
before christmas wanting something special carved.Good job on the ornament.

Callynne · #8 12-19-2005, 08:58 AM

GaryMc, another great one!! I can't believe you have carved so many, do you think it's an addiction.....carving an addiction....couldn't possibly be that, could it?! Ha! Ha!

I too love the drybrush look on Santa's beard (and eyebrows too, a tip here, just use a little detail brush and try painting a few lines of the gray paint in), that's what really makes him, and the pink cheeks and the twinkle in his eyes....okay, you got it right once again!! Thanks for sharing him! Merry Christmas!

Deborah

Thor · #9 12-19-2005, 10:20 AM

Great Branch Santa, Gary.
You've perfected them.
Now that most of us have finished carving ornaments...or will in the next week, what's next?
I'll be going back to what's on the table that has been waiting for me.
Thor

mwilleson · #10 12-19-2005, 11:06 AM

Occassionally someone uses the term "dry - brush" technique.

Can someone explain how it's done?

Thanks,
Mike