A wood carvers tribute 

Happy Veteran's Day

here we go again

Haven't posted much as of late am considering a few things and once decided will make the announcement. For those of you who use Facebook, please stop by my page; Cartoons2Carvings as much of my efforts are now posted there.

Here are some of my latest efforts. I spent most of my day minus some time mowing, painting these. My study sticks have really taken on a life of there own and have kept me busy with request but the season is approaching and I try to get a an ornament or two carved in between all the other task I have in the works

as always,

 "Good night and May God bless"

I haven't posted much lately but wanted to show my latest efforts. I have done a few more study sticks for people with various themes to them and even found time to get an ornament or two carved and painted. The holidays are closer than we think and I need to get some carved up if I will attend any shows this season.

Yet the adventure doesn't stop there, I recently brought in some new equipment and will begin to record some carving and painting sessions as folks have asked about my process for both so stay tuned there will be new stuff on the horizon coming soon.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

two more painted

Two of my latest efforts all painted up and ready for viewing. The first is the Santa from my pattern book, though I did this version without the goggles this time.

The second is simply a carving doodle that I did the other morning. I have some new paints and though I am happy with how they came out the red that I used for the skin tone has a hint of orange in it so will stick with the previous red that I have used in the past. And as you can see if you layer the colors properly you can modify any color issue that may arise.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

Latest carvings painted

So I finally finished up my latest carvings, the two on the right are going to become custom tool handles and the other will get an eyelet and become an ornament. I have been extremely blessed and busy lately with request for my painted study sticks but Christmas isn't that far away and soon I will need to get on some ornaments for the up coming holiday season. To all my friends and family have a safe and happy 4th of July celebration.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

WWI soldier carving

Carved this guy yesterday and I was so happy with how he was coming along I went ahead and painted him up yesterday afternoon. I carved him to honor my grampa who served in WWI He then returned home after his time in the service to become a successful farmer. I always remember him in his coveralls and his cigars so of course my soldier was given a smoke. This has to be the smallest cigar I have carved and painted to date. The soldier was carved from a 1" piece of bass wood and carved on the corner. 

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

latest carvings fini

For your viewing pleasure a few of my latest efforts, all carved from 1" block. To see a video of my painting technique go to;
https://www.facebook.com/cartoons2carvings. I paint a watered down acrylic and have been extremely happy with my results as of late.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

three of my latest

Three of my latest, just some carving doodles. My family and I spent some time on the family farm in WV and I got some time to carve. The civil war soldier on the right was carved before the trip and he has had a finished coating applied and the other is unfinished as he will be painted along with my newest engineer. Didn't want you to think I am not getting anything done.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

practice, practice. practice

As of late the painted study sticks have kept me busy. This whole thing started as a way for me to get some time in practicing facial features and then one day I decided I would paint one just to see how that would look, from there it has taken on a life of its own.




I now have wood carvers who have requested a painted study stick and now have begun to do somewhat of a custom order. With these the carvers have requested what I start with on top of the study stick such as a pilot, sea captain or an engineer. It has even been suggested that I may try a chef as well. Sometimes you just don't know which direction things will lead but if you are open to the opportunities you never know what you may be doing next. After all it's all started as a way of practicing facial feature, the more I do hopefully the better I become, now at times I am getting paid to practice.

As always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

My painting techniques

To paint my faces I start with a small dot of red paint and then add water to dilute it down. This is how much water to paint I start with then add a tad more water once it is blended to a consistency.

When first trying this take a scrap piece of wood to see how thin the color is, always remembering you can layer the colors to darken them up.

I used watered-down unbleached titanium paint over the face before I began adding color. I only do this when painting Butternut wood as it tends to darken even with no paint and a clear sealant.  Once I’ve given the paint ample time to dry, I began to add the watered-down red.

I paint over the whole facial area with the watered-down red. I only do one layer in the beginning. I will add more down the road, but not before I start adding some of the shadowing to the bags under the eyes.

For the shadowing on the eyes I mix dark blue, black, and white, and as always it will be extremely watered-down.

Once the colors are mixed together it will look like a watered-down bluish gray. Before applying each layer always make sure to mix the colors together to get a strong consistency in color. I applied the color to the bags under the eyes and also the thin area right underneath the eyebrows.

I then apply 2 to 3 layers of the watered-down red to the cheek area and the tip of the nose. After all, Santa is flying around in the cold night air.

From this point it’s up to each carver to decide how dark the bags under the eyes will be. The darker you want them the more layers of color you will apply. The same is true for the cheek and nose area. Each layer will strengthen the color. You can also add some of the red to the bags to soften the contrast from the rest of the face. I don’t paint the lower lip until after I have done the dry paint on the mustache and beard area.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

study sticks and castings

So for a while now I have used 1" blocks for practicing facial features, I would usually carve a 6 inch piece and carve three faces in it. Then one day I thought why not do some painting as well and so I did. I then received a request to carve one for someone, nothing in particular just three different facial expressions and would I please do the partial paint as one I had previously shared on a carving page.

Then out of the blue I was approached by someone asking if I would ever consider having castings done of my sticks and so I now have. I had two sticks with three faces each that I had cast and the folks that do the castings are wonderful at what they do, the detail in each one they create for me is amazing.

So lately I have been kept pretty busy sending out castings and carving study sticks, trying to always give the carver a range of expressions on each one I carve.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

It all began with a pencil

For all who have inquired about the paper back version of my new book, it is now available.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

study sticks

Practice sticks, study sticks, whatever you like to call them. These 1" blocks are 6" long and I normally put about three faces on them. This is not only a great way for me to practice carving expressions but also a way for me to play around with painting techniques as well. I use 1" because it's an easy size to play around on and it doesn't take up a large amount of space if being kept out at the desk or work bench. 

So if you never have, give it a shot, get some 1" blocks or whatever size you like to carve and give it ago, see what you can come up with.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"

a small carving becomes a big deal

It all began with this little guy; he is 4" long but only 1 1/4" wide. He was a fun little carve and I was happy with hoe he came out. About the time I was carving and painting him up a friend of mine and fellow carver sent me some butternut wood, a few corner cuts from 3" block 12" long. Well this one piece looked really nice and I got this thought in my head that I could re-carve the design of the little guy on this big piece of butternut and so I did.

With him being 12" long I figured I had plenty of room for some extra detailing and so I gave him a flight cap and goggles as well as the long folded cap. Of course if he was going to have a leather flight cap he would probably be a smoker so I gave him a cigar as well. I don't normally carve anything this big and at times I pondered why I was but in the end I was happy with the design and carving. Hope you enjoy him as well.

as always, 

"Good night and May God bless"