Giant Santa Carving

Hi gang,
This morning I roughed out the start of my large santa carving and I have posted a picture of it on http://www.picturetrail.com in the holiday album. It is a large piece of white pine 5ft high and 2ft wide. I plan on finishing just like the santa's that you guys do. I have never painted my carvings before and this one will probably go outside for the Christmas season. Any suggestions on what kind of paint I should use and what can I put over it to stop the paint from fading or running. Any help you can give me I would apprecitate. I plan on finishing it with quite a bit of detail I am really excited it is going to be a fun project. The only problem I am going to have is that I will be out of town for a week doing commissions and it is starting to check already. Oh well I will just call in character although I plan on draping it with wet towels and putting garbage bags over it untill I return.
Any help and comments would be appreciated I this is very new to me so I am asking you the experts. Boy I love this board.
Colin

Here's what I'd try, Colin. The local craft store (Ben Franklin) stocks an exterior acrylic paint for mailboxes, whirly-gigs, and stuff like that. It comes in almost all the colors the regular stuff does. After dry, coat that with a marine type varnish with the UV resistant factor. This stuff comes in small bottles and is a little pricy for large work, though.

I've painted some house number Santa geese, and geese with regular oil based enamel, and some with water based enamel (outdoor stuff) and then recoated with the marine varnish, and all have held up for over 10 years in our northern Michigan climate.

Al

Colin, what kind and size tools do you use for carvings that large! I picture in my mind humongous chisels LOL

Thanks Al Marine varnish it will be. Hi Ho I do have some pretty big chisels that I carve the large pieces with gouges and V tools some 3inches but with a 20oz mallet it goes pretty fast. Not only that but white pine is like carving butter next to those maples I have been carving.
Colin

Colin,

That Santa is great!! Where do you get pieces of wood that big?

I have a woodspirit that I'm working on that is about 2 ft. tall and 8' dia. and my wife keeps asking me where I'm planing on putting it. I think she'd kick me out if started doing ones that size LOL

Chris

Your Santa is great! I can't imagine how you get everything is such good porportion when it is so big. I could start with a log that size and have a 12' when I was done. Finish wise, I always use thinned down oil piants or stains. It gives a washed look rather than paint and allows the grain to show. I would assume that any stain process would work and finsih with a good exterior marine finish. No matter how you do it it will be a great piece to enjoy.
Barry

[Callynne]

Hey Colin, no advice, just compliments!! I can't wait to see him when he's finished!! What a Christmas decoration!!!! Callynne

Hi gang,
Today I am working on the giant santa and now that he is starting to take shape I have a bit of a dileama. I dont know if I want to stain him or paint him. I have never seen a stained santa all the ones I see on Reasons to Believe and Folkworks are all intracantly painted. In my mind Santa isnt Santa unless he is white and red or a variation of those colours. I would appreciate any imput you could give me I will base my decision on what you the experts say. I have also toyed with half stain and half paint I am just not sure what would be best. ???
Thanks
Colin

[Teri_Embrey]

I vote for staining him, Colin - or at least painting him with a wash of color that will still show the wood. Santa by no means has to be red and white - he can be just about any color you'd like! I can't wait to see the finished guy.

Teri

how about those transparent stains that are colored? that would be different!