[tucker1931]

Doin just fine there old buddy, I've saved the whole series in a folder on my desktop and will follow it to the "T" (I hope). We ALL appreciate your efforts. Thanks.
Cliff

[Mike_B-NY]

51. This is hard to see, but there's a notch at the bottom of the wedge cut.

52. Place the tip of the knife at the outside corner of the eye again and swing the back end of the knife up about 45deg. Make another nick cut. and Voila!

53. Sparkle! Well, actually, they're crow's feet, but I think you see the effect.

***
I don't mean to drop names here, but gotta give a nod to Marv Kaisersatt for the idea of using triangular divots for eyes. All I did was mutilate it a bit to get to this. Oh! Almost forgot... if you take the lines we drew in Step 41 and lean them a little one side or t'other, you get Santa to look that way as he's smiling, Try it next time!
***

54. OK, repeat on the other eye. Now, hold it out a bit and admire your work. Is that kewl or what... Nice Job!

51.___ 52.___ 53.___ 54.

Yipee! We're done!

Hey, don't go away... We're done with the eyes, but here's some texture suggestions for Santa's eyebrows, beard, fur trim, etc....

[Mike_B-NY]

60. A "flat plane" purist would consider this cheating, but I did my first couple with a single knife, so I believe I've paid my dues. So... we take the smallest V-tool you have and we lay in some eyebrow texture. I fan them to the outside as I get further from the center of the face (see pencil marks).

61. They're subtle, but when I tint/paint the area with light grey, and then, a bit later, dry brush over them with a white, they'll snap right out.

62. Now, with the same tool, the 'stache gets staggered cuts curved to the arc of it's shape.

63. Then the beard. Keep the cuts interesting with lots of curves and remember to stagger them... also merge them every once in a while, like free way on-ramps.

64. There! All these areas get a a light grey (white+raw umber) base color with white highlights that are drybrushed at right angles to the direction of the texture cuts.


60.___ 61.___ 62.___ 63.___ 64.

And now for the fur trim...

[Mike_B-NY]

65. For Santa's fur trim I take a small gouge and cut a series of staggered and overlapping "scoops"...

66. ...like this.

67. Then around the bottom of the robe. If it's a sharp gouge, this area should be easier to cut the scoops into than the sleave because it's cross-grain.

68. All done! These areas get a base coat of cream (white+raw sienna) stain/tint and then a dry brushed highlight of white.

69. Remember when I said these eyes would work on other projects? This is an Adirondack hermit. And notice what happens with the beard detail with that dry brushed highlight.... BAM!

65.___ 66.___ 67.___ 68.___ 69.

[Mike_B-NY]

OK Gang... That's a wrap!

Thank you BobT for an excellent suggestion.

Thank you BobT, Cliff, Corey, Gene, Marci_MN and BasketballJones for encouragement along the way.

Keep them edges keen, the chips piled high, and...

[Marci MN]

Whoo Hoo! Thanks Mike!! While you were sleeping I went and did two more carvings of an elderly couple.. They were all done except the eyes so now I'm heading back there to see if I can loose a nose or two. I just love those eyes!

I do appreciate this tute.. its been a joy to follow along. I'll be back later to show and tell.

Marcia.

[tucker1931]

Thanks Mike, it's been a great ride.
Cliff

[Marci MN]

Hi again Mike, Here are the three folks I worked on while letting you sleep.. *grin* After doing the old mans eyes (how DO you get those tiny fuzzies out of that lil hole?) I knew I wouldnt be able to do the womans eyes or the lil fellers eyes with that last cut. At least not with the knife I have.

I'm real happy with the looks of these three. They DO look jolly anyway. Thank you so much for sharing this tuturial.. I've already got number 4 started and will work on him later on today.

These are not sealed yet, I'm not sure on what I need to do with that yet. I'm still learning that dept.


Marcia.

[tucker1931]

Marcia, that's a wonderful carving you've done, WOW, I really like that little group, how big (small) are they? You really have captured the look of love. Keep up the great work and PLEASE post pix as you carve them, you have great talent.
Cliff

[Marci MN]

Hi Tucker.. thank you for the compliments. I started that old man about midnight last night..was done carving him (except for eyes) at about 3 am, so I started on the old lady and got her to the point of just her eyes left at 7:30 this morning. Figured I'd better head to bed and get some sleep then. LOL

They are 3.5 inches tall, and the lil one in the middle (the one I started when Mike started the tute) is 2.5 inches tall.