Hey Doug! I'm in construction of my own carving room! I used to work every day as a young man for years. Ended up going through a life changing workplace accident that keeps me from being mobile. My friend actually got me into carving in 2012. So nice to see you're ideas and carvings! Definitely changed my terrible depression into art. It is rewarding in the end.

I traveled to Elbigenalb, Austria in 1998, to the Geisler-Moroder School of Woodcarving; where I learned a very simple painting technique that I still use on my figurines today. Basically, when the carving is prepared to paint, I use simple watercolors (the kind you can purchase in Walmart, for example), and I tone the reds, yellows, blues, and greens with a bit of brown paint or brown stain to give it a more antique appearance. The way I paint is one section at a time (arm, leg, hat, etc.) with a heavy color. Then I take a damp (not wet) cloth and wipe the color off in that section - just enough to leave the darker color in the folds, cracks, and crevices. Once the carving is completely painted and dried, I take 000 steel wool and go over the entire piece - lightly. This removes just a tad more of the color and gives it an old appearance. After I clean the carving from any steel wool residue, I go over the entire piece with "Antik Wachs" (from Germany/Austria, where I live). It is "Antique wax" in English. I wait for about 10 hours or overnight, and then buff the carving out, giving it a nice, protective sheen.

Hi Doug. I was trying to teach myself to carve and getting very discouraged until I found your channel. Thank you so much for your great videos, they have taught me so much.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. By the way, had me laughing out loud, literally, when the owl got pushed in 🤣😂🤣

I was painting a couple carvings last night and I never like my finishes and was literally wondering if you were gonna release anymore videos about this! What a coincidence !- Choppers carving.

Absolutely love these videos, every time i learn something.

I do not have a carving club nearby, or a fellow wood carver to learn from. I am self taught and on my own, but I absolutely love to carve. Your videos are my link and I am so grateful!

Doug, I don't know where you learned all the stuff you share with us but i am SO glad you are here to share it with us. You inspire me to keep trying new and interesting things and showing me I can do these things. Loved this tutorial!

Thanks so much for taking the time to reach us this, Doug!

You're not only a very talented artist, but a great teacher. Another great video Doug.

This series is wonderful and those gnomes are amazing.

Started carving a couple years ago, it is a joy to see your work.

Glad you saved the 🦉 from drowning 🤗

Thanks Doug, you are a true inspiration.

Thanks Doug, have a wonderful week. Cute little gnomes.

Awesome explanation/demonstration Doug!! Thanks for another great vid! 😊

I've been really enjoying your videos Doug. They've inspired me to start carving and playing around in my shop again. Thank you !

Really enjoy the series Doug it’s helping me out a lot. Also loved Sophie’s little gnomes. I see the talent is throughout the whole family.

All the beautiful and cool carvings on the shelves. Sophie's works are great too!! Absolutely amazing!!

I love your down-to-earth casual manner. I makes watching really enjoyable

Thanks Doug. Love your videos. I have learned a great deal from you.

OMG, I love those fluffy little things. So cute.

Thanks for keeping everything so simple and easy to understand!!!

What a great informational video, thanks Doug!!

Love your videos! Thanks for sharing!

Always a pleasure to watch your videos Dough. I’m interested in all your subjects and the diversity is a treat. Thanks

Thanks for helping others get started with carving Doug

I so look forward to these videos ,I don't want them to end . Thank you very much you make my day . Deep gratitude. Regards Gareth Wiltshire UK.

Thanks again Doug! I'll adjust my painting and finishing based on this helpful video.

Great video Doug, I love your work and will be starting my carving adventure real soon. I hope you can persuade Sophie to do a video on her Gnomes....they are excellent! Keep up the good work, both of you and may your blades never dull.

As always great stuffs Doug! Seriously diggin Sophie’s gnomes and would love to see how she does it! Nothing but exclamation marks I know, but excellent paining techniques and ideas for every one to think about and experiment with! Be safe, stay sharp and thanks again for the wonderful tutorials! 😁♥️👍🏻

All good stuff Doug. I like looking back at how my transition went from start to now. I used to paint figures for my friends that played role-playing games. It was always fun and creative. I have seen a lot of nice art paints, brushes, and finishes at stores like Tuesday Morning, Ross, TJ Maxx. It looks like a good deal if you have an application for it. Looking forward to the next video.

Awesome information! And loved Sofie's Christmas gnomes!! They're so cute!!

Thanks for the video Doug , this has been a big help.

Awesome Doug! An anthology of learnings, personal experience and also really tip top tips :) Spot on and thank you ... As people inspired you (Gene, Sharon and Kevin to name but three) you are now an inspiration to people. Keep to your own path and thanks for taking the time to share. Time is the biggest gift you can give and this series evidently has taken time effort and commitment.

I finally started carving a year or so ago. Got hooked up with a carving club in NW Indiana and learned a lot in a short time. Doug, these videos are fantastic! I have been trying to figure out a good way to antique my carvings, thanks so MUCH!!

great stuff !!! thx a lot Doug !!!

All very well done. Makes it seem that even I could do some of this!

Thanks Doug! I do enjoy your videos! Awesome information and crafts!

An excellent and comprehensive video that I wished was available when I first started, Doug. Your beginner series on carving will help a lot of newcomers and they can rapidly learn the wood carving basics.

Thank you very much Doug and the gnomes from Sophie are so cute 😊

I really enjoy watching your videos! Keep'em coming.

Your daughter's projects were really cool, i could definitely see those in a christmas shop or something

thanks for sharing your acquired finishing techniques. Yay Sophie! those dudes are Cool!

Wow! You just covered everything so simply and so understandsble. You never fail to make me laugh. So many options i had not thot of before. Thx a bazillion. Blessings to you and yours.

Thanks for the Great Video Doug! I’m always amazed at all of the talents you and your family have. With all of the projects from carving to crafts and taking found objects from adventure and turning them in works of art is just outstanding. Looking forward to next vid.

Thanks again Doug for another awesome video! 👍😁

Thanks Doug another great tutorial

Thanks Doug I've really enjoyed it. I also enjoy all the encouragement u have provided for so many having fun with your whittles. I sure enjoy ur videos oh the gnomes are beautiful

Again Doug fantastic video Excellent tutorial on how you go about from carving to the knife now to your painting and finishing up

Thank you Mr Linker. Love each of them. Time for more fishing.

It is fun to w as tch your skills& techniques evolve. All the different finishes really do impact the final look.

I learned carving in a high school class and 6 years later I decided to pick it up again. Watched one of your videos and made a little guy yesterday and it reminded me just how much I love woodcarving again. you’re a great teacher of this art and I appreciate you sharing your advice for novices like me to learn how with just a knife you can make beautiful pieces of art!

Thank you Doug!🙏 I have no artistic ability but I do find your videos very entertaining & motivating.

Thank you for the series of videos. just starting out and your videos are a big help.

Lots of information put together in this video. Showing that you can paint or finish however you want & that there's not only one method will help so many. So many variations with painting and finishing you can have any look you like. The tomte/nisse/ gnomes that Sophie made are really exceptional 👊

Thoroughly enjoy your videos, comments, honesty, love for the art, techniques, etc. You do a wonderful job. I especially like your imagination.

Another fact filled video. Thanks for all you do to help us viewers get better. Now that I saw you stain the owl, I may try that finish, I need to carve 3 for my granddaughters. Nice that Sophie has a work space too. Nice gnomes.

Fantastic. Thanks Doug 👍

Great, great video!!! The lighting in your room makes everything kinda reddish, but you did a great job showing the finishes!! The gnomes are wonderful, too. Such a talented family!!!

Something coming to us in every episode! Great video.

Thank you for the bonus Gnomes at the end! They were so cute!

Im so glad i found you... Youve taught me a new hobby.

Nice Video, I use the Clapmann's on my wooden cutting boards in my kitchen as well as my wooden handles steak knives. Something else I sometimes use is the Shoe Polish in the flat tins. Different colours of brown so it kind of stains and seals it in one application. When its dry you can buff with a shoe brush, Don't know if people still polish leather shoes anymore. I inherited my dad's shoe polishing brushes which I love using.

Thank you very much! These videos are so useful

doug you r an amazing artist/craftsman and greatly appreciate your videos. best instructions and very inspirational. been a carpenter/fine woodworking my whole life and after watching your 5 minute wizard i’m hooked lol

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE GNOMES!! I showed my crafty roommate and now they are on the top of her list to make.... IMMEDIATELY!!! Thankyou both for the exceptional videos!😁💓🇺🇸

Another great video. So helpful to se the different options!

Doug I want to thank you kindly for your time of sharing your Knowledge which is worth Gold to me.....God Bless You

thanks doug some good tips you gave us all

Thanks Doug. I wish I could give you and this video 2 or more `thumbs up' because it is really informative.

Doug, these videos are really great! I am so glad you are doing an updated video on painting/finishing/tips/tricks. The only downside is now I have to buy myself a wood burner! LOL! The tip on doing cheeks and noses for a more rosy look was good timing for all of us carving/painting Santa's this time of the year. I can't thank you enough for doing this series Doug, it's really informative and a whole lot of fun to watch. And please tell Sophie that my wife and I love her gnomes! They look really great! That is a great idea for Christmas presents. Thanks again Doug for your time and effort in making these great videos. You, Joe and Shawn are still my top 3 favorite KZfaqrs!

Really enjoy these. I learn something all the time. Also got a pretty good laugh with the owl and stain! Thx

I always wondered if I needed anything special to paint wood, thanks for the video, I'll deffinetly use this in the future.

You and Sophie are so talented sir.....and oh, your beautiful skin tones on the makeup tutorial at the end of this fine video. Seriously, thank you for these instructional videos!!

Love this video! Great channel. I really inspiring to reach your zen and skill

Thanks, love it. I have painted for years, but no carving yet. I like your new favorite finish.

Thanks Doug. You shared in ~20mins what I've gathered on my own in the past ~2 years. I've also been told a old toothbrush works well for applying waxes and getting into the creases.

Another great video buddy thank you

Oh cool, I was hoping you had done a painting video! Great video, loved all the different techniques you shared.

Thanks for another great video Doug Great reference for the beginner carver (me)

Love the wax technique. You have the best channel! Peace and Good Fortune to you and your family.

Fantastic video as always Doug, I do not know English, but you show everything so well that it is not necessary, your tutorials are perfectly understood, greetings from Spain

I make the salad bowl treatment like you mentioned at last, works great on cutting boards, etc. I have also used it as a quick finish for small boxes. It is a great choice. Also love spray shellac, one coat seals and protects with a minimum amount of shine, two coats turns into a shiner finish so caution if you don't like a shine. What is nice about shellac is that it can go over virtually any previous finish and can be finished over with oil or water based finishes. Loved this video and this series.

There hasn’t been a video of yours yet that I haven’t learned something! Chuckled at the 🦉 plunge. Great technique that I will incorporate at some point. Thanks for providing these tutorials.

Sophie! those are adorable! awesome job!

Wow thank you so much for all videos! It's hours and hours of learning and pleasure :)

Thanks for sharing. Love your style man

Huge fan Doug.....you seem like such a nice, down to earth person....keep up the great work... cheers

Great little video

Cool gnomes Sophie!

Nice you and Sophie are so creative.

The Poor Owl Oh No Mister Bill !! LOL Thank You Doug

Another quality video keep up the great work doug cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺👍👍

Those gnomes at the end are awesome!

Another great, helpful video. Thanks.

Love your organized work shop, very informative video 👍. I want that owl 🦉

Thank you for the lessons. Your work is a pleasure to see and you lessons are helping umy very beginner wood carving effort. By the way my wife is a printmaker and she did nearly burn the house down with dyed rags soaked in linseed oil. I hope you are making a good living off your work; you deserve it.

Good on you Doug! Thanks for sharing.

What a great video!!! Thank you!