Awsome information! I was thinking about using gesso but very few carvers on YT seem to use it. but the end results of these birds compared to other carvings is really superior.
Eyes are difficult. Anything that has to do with the eyes are the hardest part of carving. If the eyes are not right, the whole carving doesn’t look right.
Gouach and gesso are two totally different things. Gouach is a type of paint in between watercolor and tempra. It is generally an opaque paint. Gesso on the other hand was invented to put a smooth coat on canvass by filling in all of the spots between the weave of the cloth...gesso is NOT a paint. Also, for your own sake you DO want to spray clear acrylic paint over your piece to protect it from UV rays or chipping. - thanks!
Clearly a very nice guy. But . . . Very poor camera placement. Think “Zoom”! Not able to see actual process. Didn’t know what you did until you held it up close to to the camera. Please take this comment as “constructive” criticism. Not personal.
