Behind the Scenes
It Starts with a Block of Wood
Pine and Basswood are soft woods and often the best option for carvings that are created with hand tools - knives and gouges.
Stain & Paint
Bring it to Life
I stain all my carvings before painting (with acrylic paints). The stain helps protect the wood while also filling in the gaps. It deepens the colors and provides contrast.
Add the Details
Pick Your Pattern(s)
I add patterns in pencil and adjust to the wood as I go because it isn’t perfectly flat or smooth. But it works!
And Here We Are!
I pick colors as I go and sometimes ‘repaint’ until it finally feels right. Finally, I use polyurethane to add a final layer to protect the paint.
Many steps, all by hand, lots of time and I wouldn’t change a thing!