Owl Portrait Progress

[Gill]

That's a beautiful cutting of a delicate pattern. Very impressive.



Gill

[Rolf]

I love Jeff Zaffino's designs and you did an amazing job with this one.
Kudos to your wife, her photography skill are supper. Nice clear pictures.
Thanks for letting us follow your progress.

My wife wants me to do Jeffs newest Christmas tree at twice its original size, this would make it 13 x 28 inches.
You have given me the motivation. Thanks

[minowevie]

out standing Bill. gosh I hope you include the pattern removal. that is always a subject we all talk about. it would be great to see it in pictuers. when I am ready to remove my pattern. I hope I will remember to take some pictures of how I do it. but I would love to see how you do. if you already have, no matter, thanks for all the time you and your sweet wife has done for us. great thread. and I think this is what a great forum can do, so the begenner to see. I would love to see more of this. and I think I will join in on my projects. including the starting sanding, to pattern placement. so cool thanks. your friend Evie

[minowevie]

Woops, I forgot to ask, if you haven't sandend it yet. that would be great to see too. how you do the finish sanding. thanks Evie

[sheltiecarver]

Bill,
OK, you've done it.
You've made it look so do-able that I've ordered a pattern (actually, the DVD and patterns) of Jeff's. So, you may have me asking all sorts of questions when I get started.
Thanks for making the process so clear, and thanks to your wife, too.
You'd better do the rest during her waking hours, so she can get some sleep.
Thanks again,
Sandy
PS When do you sleep?

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Bill,

I join my voice with the others in thanking you and your wife for this tutorial.



I did not see your signature in there, do you sign/initial your pieces?
If you do, do you cut the signature/initials or use another medium?

Regards,
Marcel

[Marcel in Longueuil]

I thought this thread was a good tutorial for all,

So with Bill's permission I moved it here.

Regards,
Marcel

[ozarkhillbilly]

Here are the last of the pictures.

The first two show me burning the fuzzies off the back, I use a small butane torch and lay the portrait face fown on a board this keeps the flame from possibly scorching the front of the portrait. I then will very lightly go over the back with a piece of 220 grit sand paper to remove what is left.

The 3rd and 4th picture show me removing the pattern, I do this by using a sponge applicator and dabbing the mineral spirits onto the pattern. After a few min. the pattern easily lifts off in one piece of the wood. Although I didn't take a picture of me removing the remaining residue off the front of the portrait, I do this by wetting a small rag with more mineral spirits and very gently dab and wipe the surface clean.

I then applied a clear stain.

I then cut black felt to fit the backer board and used spray adhiesive to attach the felt to it.

Then I put it in the frame, and hope someone buys it.

Marcel, I do sign them, but I do it on the backside of the portrait, and I sign it using a fine line black sharpie. I also have some gold labels made up with
my name and phone # which I put on the outside of the backerboard.
Some of my portraits hang in local Dr. offices and also a few other businesses.

[ozarkhillbilly]

And here is one of the completed portraits ready to go.........

Thanks everyone for following this and all the compliments.

[SharonW0111]

Excelent !!!!! I would like to see your signiture on the bottom right hand branch tho -- Work like that needs to be signed so no one can clam bragging rights but you -- again EXCELENT !!!!!!
Sharon