[Woodcarver] (Pat) Finish on Basswood

[Joe Dillett]

 Hi Pat,
   
   Hope all is well up your way. When putting color on Basswood I first use Minwax Pre Stain it "helps" keep from getting blochy spots with stain.   I like to use oil paint and thin it down to a wash. Then after drying, I use a paste wax. Painting is a weak point for me. This is a good topic for others to join in on their painting techniques.
   Chris Howard

    Chrishowardstudio.com
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Good answer Chris, and thanks for the report on the Florida Round Up.

There are many ways to paint basswood to keep it from getting blotchy and get the effect you want. The method I use, when applying the first coat I mix artist-oil paint with the varnish, using the varnish as an extender to make the paint into a wash. The reason stains can get blotchy is most stains are low viscosity and soak deeper into endgrain making those areas darker. If you raise the viscosity by adding varnish the stain is suspended in the varnish and doesn't soak into the wood at different depths resulting in an even color. Paint acts the same way. Artist-oil paint mixes very well with varnish, blends well with other colors and easily controlled ranging from just a hint of color to almost opaque. Mixing artist-oils with varnish results in drying times of typically one day, the same as varnish.

Rarely do I paint a carving but there are many times when I add a little burnt umber, raw umber or raw sienna into the wet varnish in specific areas to deepen the shadows. It isn't noticeable but just a little darkening in just those areas swallows almost all light adding more dimension and depth to your carving. Varnish makes the paint blend so well that there isn't any hard edges so the hint of color added is not noticeable.

noticeable apply one or two coats of clear varnish as a top coat.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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