Friday, December 3, 2010

Carved Santa

Recently we took another carving class, with a very talented instructor by the name of Sheila. 

Far Guy and our daughter Jen collected larger pieces of Cottonwood bark for the class.

I picked a piece that had a real flow that would make a beard. This entire piece is about 14 inches long.

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With bark carving you just have go with what the wood tells you.  Using this piece of bark was a risk because of the lack of wood on the right side of this photo. However if I could make it work it was going to be an awesome piece.

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One by one the features come out in the face.  His eyes are all squinty because they are easier to carve that way..eyes are difficult.  Did you know that eyes have eye bags..one is carved in the photo above and one is just penciled in.

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Now for the beard …

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I debated was it done or not?  I decided that eight hours was enough time to carve on this project. Yes, there are imperfections when you carve with bark..but no two pieces are alike either.

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  I painted it and then I took Bees wax and slathered it all over with a stiff brush and then I melted the wax with a hair dryer. Then I took another stiff brush and buffed it after it was dry.

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There he is done!  He still needs a hanger on the back of some sort..I think I will wire him to a wreath that I decorated for Far Guys Mom years ago..he is pretty large..he will take up one whole side of the wreath.  It is a wreath I keep indoors..on the railing upstairs.  I have to take the completed carving  to carving class first and show it off before he finds his final home.

Far Guy carved a Santa also..two of them..both have problems which he will eventually get sorted out..one is in two pieces for the second time around.  Bark Carving is an adventure and a great pastime in the winter:)

27 comments:

Terra said...

This is fascinating and you did an excellent job carving this Santa.

Lanny said...

That is crazy beautiful I love it! Do more do more!

Nancy said...

Wow, great job on the carving. That chunk of wood was really talking to you!

DayPhoto said...

You are VERY good, Connie! WOW!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Rita said...

Wow! I am so glad you took pictures of the process because I never could have pictured that beautiful end piece, I tell you! Great job! :)

DJan said...

Wow! How impressive, and beautiful, too!

PeeJay said...

Wow, Wow and Wow again! Absolutely stunning! I love the photos of the stages and I would never have seen, in that piece of bark, what you saw. Beautiful, beautiful work. Please show more.

Linda said...

You are one amazingly talented woman. I love him.

Muffie said...

Absolutely gorgeous!! You should be in business -- these would make a fortune!
Peace,
Muff

Leah said...

You did great - I love it! ---

Gail said...

You are an artist!!! This piece is full of personality.

definition.of.me said...

Oh my gosh, that looks great! I'm very impressed.

The Retired One said...

GORGEOUS..you are so talented!!!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Sweet! You are very talented!

Lynda said...

Amazing! You are double-talented with the carving AND painting. And the finished product ended up looking like what you wanted it to. That is very impressive to me because I can't draw better than a grade-school child. Thanks for sharing.

wendyytb said...

WOW! Very impressive!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Very cool! You really brought this piece of bark to life, in a whole new way. It has a lot of character. I suspect you will get the urge to do another, and another.....

carolina nana said...

That turned out beautiful,you did an excellent job.You should go into business,I'd surely buy one !!!
Have a blessed tomorrow

Anonymous said...

Wow - you're so talented! This is fabulous.

Changes in the wind said...

Oh my gosh...you are so talented...I love it!!

Merideth in Wyoming said...

Love it - you did a great job!

meowmomma said...

OH, I'm lovin' that Santa! I've never heard of carving bark before either. What a vision you had with it!

Connie Peterson said...

How fantastic! I've always wanted to carve but when I went to a class, I discovered that my hands aren't strong enough to carve and I need to save them for weaving and spinning. Sigh -- Yours, though ... it's great.

Emma Rose said...

That is amazing! You really have a talent for that. Bravo! Bravo!

Merry Mary said...

Beautiful work! You are a very talented carver.

RURAL said...

Connie, simply amazing! Wow, how beautiful.

I love what you have created, and the soft colors just bring out the beauty even more.

One talented woman.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

West Side of Straight said...

This turned out absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait to see new Santa's on the knees!