Back to:
:: Techniques & Tips ::

Where two different colors meet, for example, arms and sleeves, beard and chest, and so forth, make a knife cut at the dividing point.

This figure shows how this works.

1. A normal cut (A) allows the paint to bleed into this area.
   
2. A knife cut (B)  helps stop the paint from spreading onto the next surface.

This cut does two things:

1. fibers the wood, thus preventing one color from bleeding into another
   
2. provides a channel for the finish to flow into, thus distinguishing the two features.

Relief carvers could use this technique to highlight low reliefs after the stain or finish is applied.

N O T E S

1. Make a cut by doing only a simple stop cut. Do not make a notch by doing a V-cut.

2. Make these cuts after sealing the carving. This opens the channel for the thinned paint (wash).

UPDATED: 03.08.2001