The Making of Zwart Piet

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Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingFirst I do a rough sketch of my Santa. Then I make a template that will be use to cut out the wood blank from 2 inch thick basswood. This sketch and template are used over and over. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carving Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingI pencil in on the blank where I am going to cut.
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingI make what are called "stop cuts" into the wood. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingThe nose always gets carved first in my method. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingI have never had any classes in Santa carving.
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingI have just developed this technique after years of practice. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingThis is always a little scary. Thank goodness for super glue. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingIt takes a fine tip knife to cut around the eyes.

Only Santas in my "Artisan Series" get the nostrils, eyes cut in and the beard detailed.

Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingI like to finish the face first. That way if I mess it up then I haven't wasted a lot of time on the body. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingNow I start working down the rest of the front. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carving
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carving Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingNow the front is mostley done. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingThere is not as much work in doing the back.
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carving Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingNext the detail work gets done on the hair and beard. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingA few toothpicks are cut up to make the switches.
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingNote the repair on the thumb. Sometimes super glue gets used for that also. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carving For paint I have always used inexpensive acrylics made by Apple Barrel and FolkArt. They work fine for me. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingIt takes a fine brush and steady hand to paint the eyes.
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingEver wonder why there is a hole in the bottom of almost all my Santas? Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingThey get nailed to a board which I can hold on to while painting. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingAll of my Santas are signed
Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingand numbered. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingSince acrylics are very flat I apply a secret blend of polishes. This gives them a sheen and "ages" them a little. Zwart Piet - Santa wood carvingThat's all there is to it!

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All images © 2005 by Paul H. Umfleet