[sharon cottrell]

I started this little guy a couple of weeks ago. It's from a piece of cypress limb I got out of the woodshed.The cypress is native to this area. My husband cut part of it off for me. I've been working on it in the evenings, few hours here and there. I'm carving it with my little flexcut mini knife, my cheapy forgot the name carving tools, and my dockyard micro tools. The cypress carves real nice. I tried to burn it with my cheapy $20 woodburner, that was kind of a fiasco. So I've been sanding that off with my dremel tool. I'm attempting to carve 6 or so leaves out of what I think is oak, see small pieces that look kind of like leaves,I hope. I'll carve slits on the sides of his face, were his ears would go, and glue 3 on each side to frame his face. Hope that makes sense the way I explained it. I might paint him, probably the leaves for sure. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.......Sharon------P.S. Put my gloves by it to show size.

[Merle Rice]

Sharon, you have the touch with the Woodspirits. That is a Great Piece of ART. You did good. Like to see it finished. Merle

[Jim OH]

Hi Sharon, good work! Don't know if you saw my post after painting information but please, if ya try to paint it, first experiment a bit on a piece of scrap. Sure don't want to mess that one up cause it looks great!
Jim OH

[Ron T]

Hi Sharon,

Great job on the spirit face and I love the idea with adding the leaves.

It amazes me how there’s so many “new ideas, to me” appearing in the forum everyday. That’s what makes this such a wonderful place.

As far as “cheapy” goes, as long as it removes the wood, it doesn’t have to have a pedigreed name for me to use it. After all, I am using “nail” knives.

I bought a set of cheap Chinese gouges when I first started making canes but I couldn’t use, they wouldn’t cut. I tried to sharpen them but didn’t know how. Then, I found the “scary sharp” thread and I now use them on my softer wood sticks.

[Claude]

Sharon:
Awesome detail on that wood spirit, for it's size. Excellent work!

Claude

[sharon cottrell]

Thanks Merle,Jim,Ron and Claude, I appreciate your nice comments. Jim, thanks for the painting tips, I did see them.Ron,I was just being dramatic. I like my cheapy tools except the wood burner.It bites. I'm putting in hints to my husband for agood one for Christmas or next birthday.lol- thanks for the encouragement guys, Sharon

[Iowa Carver]

Sharon, I think you have done a very fine job there. The face details are really nice. I don't know what the burning looked like before but the remains look good now. Nice job!

Corey

[tucker1931]

Sharon, very interesting spirit, I really like the flow of the stache and beard, he's a beauty, great eyes as well.
Cliff

[Dan Wegiel]

Looks great, can't wait to see the final piece.
Dan

[Mottles]

Hi Sharon, your woodspirit is looking really good and I like your idea of adding the leaves. I also like the idea of painting the leaves and leaving the woodspirit unplainted. Maybe an antiquing stain would be nice or not. Watco Danish Oil Dark makes a nice wipe on wipe off antique. Or if you have Artist's oil colors you can mix burnt umber and linseed oil for an antique application.
I'll come back later to see how your doing.
Kathy