Follow My Carving - Gnarly Tree - It's Finished

To celebrate Heartwood Art carvings being featured in upcoming issue of Woodcarving Illustrated the "Follow My Carving" series was created to give you a an insider’s view on how the art is made.



The carving is complete and mounted in a custom frame that was provided by Connie Weaver, owner of S & S Framing. The deep colors of the frame nicely offset the light honey-tone of the wood.

I hope you have enjoyed this Follow My Carving series. Feel free to contact me directly with your comments or post them here on the blog. You can see a full animation of close-ups by visiting the 2009 Gallery. The carving is now available for sale.

Follow My Carving - Gnarly Tree - Step 23

To celebrate Heartwood Art carvings being featured in upcoming issue of Woodcarving Illustrated the "Follow My Carving" series was created to give you a an insider’s view on how the art is made.

The final lacquer finish has been applied and the carving is ready to frame. There are two important measurements you’ll want to take on your frame before you even begin the carving. They are pictured below.












You’ll need to know the width of the inside of the frame so you can give your pattern enough blank space before the carving begins. In other words, you wouldn’t want part of your carving to be behind that part of the frame.

You’ll also need measure the depth of the frame and make arrangements to fill in any gap behind the carving. The next installment will show methods for filling this gap and ways to secure the carving in the frame.

To see more carvings, please visit the Heartwood Art site.

Follow My Carving - Gnarly Tree - Step 22

To celebrate Heartwood Art carvings being featured in upcoming issue of Woodcarving Illustrated the "Follow My Carving" series was created to give you a an insider’s view on how the art is made.

With just the first coat of oil the leaf patterns in the corners are already beginning to standout. The oil will pool a little in the carved lines and darken compared to the sanded flat wood around them. This gives distinction to the lines.



At least three more coats of Danish oil will be needed before applying the final sealant finish.

To see more carvings, please visit the Heartwood Art site.

Follow My Carving - Gnarly Tree - Step 21

To celebrate Heartwood Art carvings being featured in upcoming issue of Woodcarving Illustrated the "Follow My Carving" series was created to give you a an insider’s view on how the art is made.

The bark carving is finished and the final cleanup of the carving is done. It’s time to start the oiling process. I’ve made a square frame that will allow me to oil both sides of the carving at the same time and allow it to air dry on both sides. The first step is to place staples in the sides. This stapler has a wire guide setting that leaves a gap instead of inserting the staple flush. The carving must be laid flat and a little downward pressure applied while the staple is being inserted. Don’t try to do this with the carving standing on end or it may crack.



Small wires are inserted through the staples. The carving is placed in the square frame and the wires are wound around screws on each side.



I usually start by oiling the backside first. Be sure to oil the outer edges. I use Danish oil because it gives a nice honey brown glow to the wood and does not leach out over time like boiled linseed oil can do. I used to apply the oil with an artist’s brush suitable for oil painting, but have since found that a standard acid brush used to apply flux for welding and such works just as well and is far cheaper. The oil is applied in thin coats. The first one is absorbed rather quickly. If I apply it in the morning I can usually apply a second coat by early evening. It usually takes about four coats in all.

To see more carvings, please visit the Heartwood Art site.