This photo shows the carving with the top half coved with the base coat and the bottom half is still the bare basswood. This carving is six inches tall by three inches wide. If it was twice as large, then the base coat would be put on only about half because of the working time before the dryer in the Boiled Linseed Oil begins to harden the surface thus impeding the flow of the next colors that go on top of the base coat. For a carving this size, the rest of the carving will receive the base coat, but this photo simply shows the difference in color between the base coat and raw basswood. The base coat produces an instant patina of antiquing from the inside out and when the other colors are added on top of the base coat, the base coat tends to “soften” the other colors. The other advantage of the base coat is that it has already begun the process of being absorbed into the basswood, so that when the rest of the colors are added they will blend in with the base coat and will not bleed into each other. The overall plan for painting after the base coat is applied is to work from the top down to the bottom. Each color is mixed when and as needed. If a carver wanted to test a color on a scrap piece of basswood, it is suggested to carve several facets on the scrap wood to have a surface simular to the carving, put the base coat on the test basswood and then the next color. For our Santa example the plan is to paint the hair, beard, eyebrows and eye balls with a mixture of Zinc White and Boiled Linseed Oil. The pipe and knife handle will receive a mixture of Burnt Sienna and Boiled Linseed Oil. The ashes in the pipe and the knife blade will receive a Gray paint stain which can be made with a mixture of Zinc White and Ivory Black mixed with Boiled Linseed Oil. The little santa being carved will receive a mixture of Burnt Umber and Boiled Linseed Oil. The shirt will receive and mixture of Cadmium Red Deep Hue and Burnt Sienna mixed with Boiled Linseed Oil. The overalls will receive a mixture of Sap Green and Burnt Umber mixed with Boiled Linseed Oil. And finally, the tree stump and the shoes will receive a mixture of Ivory Black and Boiled Linseed Oil. Painting is very much like the carving process in that the piece is first carved to “form” just as the base coat covers the entire carving. After the carving has been shaped into its basic form, then the “details” are carved in one section or part at a time just as each section or part receive its coloring one at a time.