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.

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.

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.

Now for the beard …

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.

  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.

 

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:)