Wood-Carved Hand Sculpture - First time Dremel carving!
4My first wood carving turned out pretty good, I think!
Starting with a 5" round, white pine fence-post that was turning green in a scrap pile, I dove in with my brand new Dremel 4000 rotary tool armed with a Kutzall Flame Burr. Over 5 sittings and 15 or so non-consecutive hours, I worked down to the smaller detail and on to smaller carving bits. After some minor sanding, polishing and engraving the wood with my fingernails, I made the final creased details by pressing the tip of my nail into the wood to crease the natural creases of skin.
Once I was "happy with it " (translation: "accept the current state as acceptable and expect more work to either: 1) do more harm than good and cause a complete loss when I inevitably LOSE IT ON THIS STUPID THING!...or 2) become a project that never ends") I decided to tint the rather bland-looking white pine with a wash of....Instant Coffee! Folgers Classic Roast *not sponsored* added to the wood a rich, golden tone with a dark-roasted grain and a bold aroma to boot! The finish of two coats of varnish (intended for acrylic paintings) adds not only a layer of protection but a sweet smell making the model emanate notes of caramel and childrens' breakfast cereal.
Are you suddenly hungry too? Just me?
Huge thanks to my brother, Dave who afforded me the Dremel 4000 with extended flex-shaft and Kutzall flame rotary burr these past holidays. I am also super-thankful for my roommate giving me access to a rather kitted-up workshop in the garage downstairs as well as the scrap wood for this project!
Let me know your thoughts in the comments!