Leprechaun Pencils

Carve the hat buckle. Use a micro V-tool to carve a 3/16″ (5mm) square, placing the center of the square 3/16″ (5mm) above the stop cut.

Carve the hatband and shamrock. Use the knife to make parallel stop cuts 1/8″ (3mm) apart and 1/8″ (3mm) above the original stop cut. Carve along both hatband stop cuts with the micro V-tool. Use a micro V-tool to carve a shamrock just above the buckle.

Carve the face landmarks. Measure 1/4″ (6mm) from the bottom of the hat under the hat buckle and stab a 1.5mm to 3mm micro skew chisel straight in 1/8″ (3mm). Move down 1/4″ (6mm) and repeat the process. Use the skew chisel to carve down at a 45° angle to the bottom of the upper stab cut. Carve up to the bottom of both stab cuts at a 45° angle to set in the bridge and bottom of the nose.

Rough out the eyes and nose. Use the micro V-tool to carve around the perimeter of an oversized triangle for the nose. Then use the same tool to carve 1/8″ (3mm)-deep eye sockets. Start at the outside corner of one eye and carve the top of the eyebrow arching over the eye to the bridge of the nose. Repeat on the other side.

Carve the cheeks. Using the micro V-tool, start at the corner of the nose and carve around the cheeks up to the hat. Use a micro skew chisel to make a stop cut in these V-grooves and carve up to the stop cut from below to shape the cheeks. Round the cheeks and refine the bridge of the nose. Make stop cuts alongside the nose and round the cheeks into them to separate the nose from the cheeks.

Carve the eyes. Use the point of the knife to carve a three-corner chip out of each eye. Increase the depth of the cut until you can see the black pencil graphite. Use the micro V-tool to carve crow’s feet into the corners of the eyes. Clean up the cuts.

Carve the beard. Use the knife to shave away paint from the area under the nose to make the beard come to a rounded point. Use the micro V-tool to carve the outline of an oversized upper lip. With the micro skew chisel, carve up to the line to separate the top lip from the beard. Carve under the lower lip with the micro V-tool to separate the lower lip from the beard. Then use the micro V-tool to carve the beard and eyebrow texture.

Add the coat details. Use a pencil to draw the bow tie, jacket, and vest. Carve along the lines with the micro V-tool. Use the micro  gouge to carve the buttons on the vest.

Carve the hair. Starting just below the hat, push the micro gouge in at a 45° angle and lift it slightly to create the locks of hair. Work across the back of the head. Stagger the cuts between the rows like shingles on a roof. Be careful not to break off the chips. Use the skew chisel to thin the nose and carve a slight point on the tip.