All carvings are sealed with oil-based Spar Urethane. Keep your wood carving looking great by applying more coats every few years to help shield the piece from sun and weather. Spar Urethane can be found in a spray for an easy to apply coat. If your carving needs a lot of varnish be sure to brush on a thicker coat and your carving should look like new!

Keep your carving off of the ground if possible, whether it's inside or outside. Place a flat stone or board under the carving to keep it from soaking up moisture. Doing this inside will also keep the wood from leaving a small stain on carpet or wood floors.

Increase the longevity of outdoor carvings by positioning them in a protected area with limited exposure to direct sunlight.

No matter what you do, "wood cracks." 

When a living tree or branch is cut it is full of water. As the wood dries it shrinks and compresses. Cracks develop to relieve the stress of the compression. The general rule is that the faster the wood dries the larger and more abundant the cracks are likely to be. 

Slow down the wood drying out by following the suggestions above.

"Wood cracks" and these cracks can add a unique beauty to your wood artwork.