Pancho-Part 8-The Paint Job!

As you can see this is not the Bottlestopper we've been working on. However, it will make a good subsitute as it has a lot more detail than just the head and hat.

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There is a real load of photos in the gallery...some 80 or so. They show the painting process completely or as complete as I can show you. There are a couple of things I'll mention that the photos don't explain and one of the most important of these is learning to load your brush with wash or paint. When painting anything, from your house to this carving, get in the habit of really loading your brush with paint right up the the metal ferrel. The more paint you have the longer you'll be able to paint and the smoother your strokes will be. Naturally, when painting extremely small areas like the whites of the eyes you can only use the tip of the brush but as you will find the more you practice a loaded brush is really the way to go. And squeeze out enough paint from the tube or bottle so you can see the color. Don't be a dabber!!

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If you've used a burning pen to outline the color seperations of your carving you'll quickly see just how this helps in painting. Paint will just not craw or bleed across that burnt line. If you think it does then you've crossed the line! It also makes your carving "Pop" once it's varnished. Your colors are clean and crisp.

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Another tip is to get up every so often and go wash your hands. The carving is wet when you paint it and your hands are oily so it will get dirty if you're not careful. And buy a little tub of brush cleaner and soap up your brushes every once in a while. It keeps them soft and flexible and helps them retain their point. If your brushes get flared out on the ends then toss them...there is nothing that will ruin a project more than a worn out brush.

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One more thing....before you varnish your piece spray a very light coat of Deft or Testors Dulcoat onto those areas on the hat where you used the Sharpie pen and on the collar where you used the Gold pen. When it dries hit it again with another light coat and let it get good and dry. This will keep those colors from liquidfying again when you brush on the varnish. Even then be careful when you varnish those areas.

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So, thats wraps up this project! I hope you've enjoyed it and that it helps you in your carving. If you have any additional questions just drop me a comment and I'll try and answer them.

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One more thing....if you click on the above photo it's large enough to show everything. Like I said, tons of photos in the Gallery.