Hand Carved Santa House
Here is my new Santa House that I started on in December 2023, featuring angels hanging stars, and tiny mice hanging garlands. I carved this Santa House on poplar wood, working first with chisels and gouges, then switching to a Dremel tool. Below are the steps I have taken to create this new piece. First, my drawing.... My initial sketch was done on tracing paper, then I used carbon paper to transfer it to the wood block. I can work out my designs more easily this way. For instance, I had initially sketched a pair of nutcrackers on the first floor of the house, but decided the nutcrackers were too stern for the whimsical vibe I wanted to create, and chose a friendly penguin instead. After transferring my sketch to the wood block I start carving. I work on the depth of the background first. I want the stars and angel to stand out against the sky. As I go along, I will remove more of the background as I adjust the depth of the house and characters in the foreground...