Tis The Season - finished

I spent a few days creating a scene for my Tis The Season elves.  The scene completes the story.

To create the scene I started by drawing an irregular shape on 1 1/2" basswood and cutting it out on my bandsaw.  I used my long tools and mallet to carve the contours in the snow and carved the rocks along the edge with a knife and v-tool.  The signpost is just a piece of scrap basswood and I wood burned the place names on popsicle sticks. 

Remember, snow isn't white.  First, paint the base with a light wash of ultramarine blue.  Next, thin down titanium white with just a bit of water so the blue will show through.  Paint the rocks "rock colors", dark burnt umber with highlights of raw sienna and dry brush with titanium white.  I used a router to cut the base from mahogany and glued the 2 layers together. 

This is a fun project and will add a special touch to your holiday decorations.  The individual elves are available at Dale Green Woodcarving and I will soon add a tutorial to this blog on carving the gift Shorty is standing on.

Tis the Season

Even though it isn't the season - yet, it will be here before you know it.  Now is the time to get started on carving Christmas projects.  Maybe if you carve these in the summer, it won't seem as hot!

I just finished carving these 3 little elves announcing "Tis the Season".  You may want to change their message or add the names of your family members to the signs they are holding.  I have the rough-outs for sale on my website either individually, or a discount is offered if you order all 3. 

The center elf, Shorty, is standing on a gift box that is not included with the rough-out but easily carved from a piece of scrap wood.

Now that the figures are finished, I'm carving a scene to mount them on.  Check back in a few days and I will have a photo of it posted.

In the meantime, you can see my newly designed Dale Green Wood Carving website.

New Carving Project

I'm either really late or really early with this project.  Was I supposed to have this done for last Christmas?  Let's go with, I'm early for this year.
This little 8" bell ringer Gnome is ready to ring in the season.  He is going to be joined by more elves and gnomes that are in the works. 
Rough-outs for the Bell Ringer will be available in a few weeks on my website or you can reserve yours now by contacting me.

Chris Hammack Class

 This past Friday and Saturday, eleven carvers from around the area enjoyed a two day class with Chris Hammack in my studio.  Most of the students were from Utah, however, there were a couple of carvers brave enough to venture here from Wyoming.  Each student had a wide variety of rough-outs to choose from but most selected the figures for the bar scene.  Chris has 11 carvings that make up the bar scene, most are cowboys, however, this year he added a couple of women and a biker dude.  I think most carvers walked out with the whole set.

The two days were filled with laughter, Chris is a great story teller and had the group in stitches both days.  He has an endless list of jokes that keeps the carvers laughing and relaxed the whole time.  The two days seemed to fly by. 
My wife, Kerry provided lunch for the gang both days, with hot meals and fresh home made cookies, she was a hit.  Several of the guys commented that they only came for the lunch and carving was second.
We plan to have Chris back next year, as he promised more figures for the bar scene and some new full figures as well.

With these snowy days, it has given me time to spend working on new projects.  These three little elves will become part of a Christmas scene once they are done.  The scene will be composed of the elves, Christmas presents, pine trees and whatever else comes to mind.  The whole scene will set on a carved base made to look like snow.  Each elf is holding a wooden sign which will read, " Tis the Season" or you could put your own custom greeting on them.  The idea is that when you put them together they spell out the message.
I going to try something new this year for carvers interested in making a completed scene.   We will take one Saturday each month and spend the whole day carving.  Starting with the elves, which will take four classes to complete, three for carving and one day for painting.  We'll then focus on the scene, starting with the base, this will take another Saturday.  The remaining two Saturdays will be spent painting and attaching the pieces to the base.  Each student will select what they want on their scene.
So, by the end of  November , each student will have a complete Christmas scene to show off to everyone who visits for Christmas.  This would also make one heck of a gift for someone special.
I will be sending out a schedule for the class sometime in the next month or so.  It will have to start no later than May for everyone to get it done before Christmas.

Only 1 Seat Left!

Here are just a few of the projects available in Chris Hammack's upcoming class in my studio on February 15th and 16th.  Chris is a world renown caricature carver and is the master of facial expressions.  Chris teaches his unique style which will add expression and bring your carving to life.
There is only 1 seat left in class so don't wait to contact me at 801-503-8754 if you would like to join us for 2 days of carving and lots of laughs.
Class fee is $165 plus the cost of rough-outs.  Lunch is included both days.

More time for Carving

Last night the Monday night carving group celebrated Ross' last day of work.  Ross has actually had two careers, over twenty years in the US Navy and twenty more at the Utah State Prison (not as an inmate!)  To celebrate his new freedom, we surprised him with a cake.  Josh, the young guy in the back row, said he only has 30 years before he can retire.  I promised him a cake too, if they will wheel me out of the home at night.
Once again, we had a great time laughing and enjoying the night carving with friends.