'Nother Cypress knee

Doug Ridley · #1 04-13-2007, 04:56 PM

I haven't posted any carvings for a while so here's an 18" Santa from a Cypress knee, painted with oils and completely carved with power. No hand tools.

gene messer · #2 04-13-2007, 05:15 PM

Doug .. As always .. you do a wonderful job on everything and this Santa is no exception ... I love your colors and the backpack with the tree sticking out is wonderful ... The leg sticking out is a good touch .. What's so unique is .. you didnt loose the shape of the cypress knee .. you just formed him around it ..
Great job Doug .. As always ..

susieq · #3 04-13-2007, 06:29 PM

Lovely use of a cypress knee......well done!!
It is always so hard to make use of the little extra peaks that come attached to the main one and I have yet to carve a cypress knee because of it. My mind won't work that way. Mom carved quite a few knees in her day. I love it Doug. You inspire me to try one of the knees I have been holding on to for so long....Thanks
susieq

Doug Ridley · #4 04-13-2007, 08:39 PM

Susan I have a tutorial on carving a Santa from a Cypress knee if you think it would be of any help I'll send it to you. Just drop me a PM with your email address. It is a free tutorial called Power carving for beginners.
Doug

susieq · #5 04-13-2007, 09:42 PM

Thank you Doug,
I will.....
Susieq

Eddy Smiles · #6 04-13-2007, 10:42 PM

Nice work Doug!

Doug Ridley · #7 04-13-2007, 10:48 PM

Susan--- Your tutorial has been sent. Hope it helps you some.

santagibbs · #8 04-14-2007, 04:08 AM

I sure do like your Santa Doug. It takes a creative mind to come up with the bag and tree..I haven't seen one like that on a cypress knee.. That's a nice creative work.. Charlotte

Doug Ridley · #9 04-14-2007, 09:49 AM

Charlotte, I've carved hundreds of Cypress knee Santas, many with a pack and a tree. The reason: they sell rapidly. These things go to the gift shops wholesale in groups of four and they seem to move pretty well for them. There are two ways for the trees. Most of the time I use a double spike, but sometimes I attach the bag with a tree in it. Also some of the knees may have a hump I can use for a bag and I just insert the tree. It all depends on what the knee looks like to start with.
I do carve many other things but the Cypress knee Santas are my mainstay and have been for several years.

Doug Ridley · #10 04-14-2007, 09:54 AM

Susan, I just looked at your website and you do wonderful work! You probably ought to return the tutorial since you obviously don't need any help from the likes of any old geezers like me.