Spirit Dolls

Mottles · #1 04-05-2007, 07:57 PM

Tall Spirit Doll
18 Inches Tall by 4 Inches across
Found Cottonwood on Cottonwood limb base

Kachina Like Spirit Dolls (no specific one)
6 Inches Tall 2 Inches Across
Basswood

Well, it's been a while since I posted a thread been busy carving and just life in general. The Cottonwood limb for the tall doll was so dry, I added several coats of Danish Oil, and finished with a coata of gloss varnish. If I had it to do over again I wouldn't have use gloss varnish. As always I appreciate your comments and suggestions for improvement.
Still working on my Mountain Man and Grizzly bear on a found Cottonwood Limb.
Kathy

Eddy Smiles · #2 04-05-2007, 09:30 PM

Kathy... Very unique. I'm not sure that I'd even know where to start never mind make a comment. It looks good to me. As for the finish a lot of the carvers seem to use linseed oil and waxes to protect their carvings but I'm still at the polyurethane stage. I've found that a satin or matt finish works best on my work. A gloss shows off all the mistakes and imperfections the same as a gloss paint does on a wall.

Mottles · #3 04-06-2007, 12:23 PM

Hi Eddy, yeah I made a poor choice using the gloss finish. I'm thinking I might sand off the gloss and use a ploy-varnish. I like using the Danish Oil it gives the wood a richness in color then finish with a poly matt spray. I thought because the wood was so darn dry finishing with the gloss would liven up the wood. Wrong....This wasn't the carving for a gloss finish. Duh....
Thank you, for your thoughtful comment and I do appreciate your thoughts!
Kathy

Kenny_S · #4 04-06-2007, 01:06 PM

Kathy, Try a Matte finish to bring down the shine before sanding it. May be the look you want.
I like the looks of it though. Nicely carved and painted.

Mottles · #5 04-06-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_S

Kathy, Try a Matte finish to bring down the shine before sanding it. May be the look you want.
I like the looks of it though. Nicely carved and painted.

Hi Kenny, thank you good idea will give it a try and let you know how it turns out. I really did enjoy carving it--always a challenge these Cottonwood limbs especially this one. The wood was so dry it kept chipping on me. Carved like butter though...I'm not so sure it wasn't a root, as it didn't have the standout Cottonwood star center.
Thanks again,
Kathy

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #6 04-06-2007, 01:29 PM

Those are looking great Kathy! And you don't have to sand it...just spray with satin or semi gloss! I do it all the time, especially on something I want a thick coating on but a semi gloss final finish....

Mottles · #7 04-06-2007, 01:43 PM

Hi Dave, thank you too--will get some semi-gloss or satin spray to dull the shine today--never relish sanding LOL. I'm pleased you liked my work on these dolls. Much appreciated.
Kathy
PS...fortunately I didn't use any gloss on the smaller dolls. The semi or satin gloss will work great for them.