-
Posts
2,063 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Everything posted by ClayB
-
Alex, I don't think your products actually have to look that similar for your style to show through, when you get that style developed to a recognizable level. Look at Peter Main's work. It doesn't matter if it's a gun belt, a covered mirror, or a book cover, there are things he does that make his work recognizable, even without his unique signiture. His coloring technique, his use of the modeling tool, the perfection in everything he does. Jan Schoonover does a lot of work very similar in style to what Robb Barr did. But, if you set their work side by side, it wouldn't take long to figure out which one of them did each piece. They each have things that give away thier work (thier style). I bet there are a lot of saddle makers here that can pick out the work of a lot of thier peers just by looking at it. Might be the way they cut out a certain piece, the way they tool, the way certain things are assembled. Here on the forum there are people who's style shows in thier work. Look at Kate Dubiel's work. It doesn't matter if it's a chessboard or a book mark. Her unique style of coloring gives it a way as well as her attention to the tiny details. Art and Vera Goldberg is another. Doesn't matter if it's a picture or a vase, the style that they have developed shows through in either one and makes it recognizable. I have studied the work of a lot of people and try to take something from a each of them and incorporate it into what I do. I think it would be really neat though for your own unique style to show through no matter how different your projects are.
-
Monthly Floral Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Well if those are chatter marks, they sure are nice and even, and dang close together! I am always surprised what you see when you blow things up on the computer screen. I should quit doing that, huh? I do it on my own stuff too, amazing how different you tooling looks that big! -
Monthly Floral Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Bruce, I like the leaf you added off the scroll. The viener impressions on on the tips of the small leaves are neat, never seen that before (or didn't notice it if I did) It's amazing what you see when you can blow a picture up really big. Did you use one of your altered bevelers on the outside curves of the flower and big leaves? Looks like you can see tiny lines radiating off of them. You might have to talk about your bevelers again sometime. I also like how you narrowed everything up where all the stemwork comes together. Russ, I really like the depth in the background, but on the pear shader, I wouldn't go quite so deep. The finish you put on it aceents the pear shader impressions and makes them really stand out in the picture, probably more than they do. I always found the mule foot a hard tool to use, to get it lined up perfectly and to get each following impression to fade out a little more than the last. Beezachopper, I always like the undercuts you do on your carvings. I think they really add to the depth. I also really like that background tool. It's one my grandfather used a lot. Doesn't seem like too many people use it these days. I want to thank everyone for playing along in these challenges. I didn't know what kind of participation to expect and I have been pleasantly surprised. -
NO FAIR, That's cheating!!!! Now you gotta start all over!!!! You should have at least got him to sign it Uncle Pete.
-
Hey Marlon, That looks really good, carving and coloring. The shading is coming along great! Looks like Uncle Pete even taught you to carve your name tiny like he does. It's too small for me to tell if you added the '08 after it, that would be a real challenge. I hope you will post another picture when it all finished. I wont quit "yammering" until you do
-
Monthly Figure Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
One thing I notice about using the cam for the hair, above the eye it looks kind of like rows of hair in really even layers. I would like it more random, but I am wondering if you used the cam in a random overlapping way, if you would get more of a cross hatch pattern? Guess I'll have to dig out the book and see how Al did it. I still think for a first attempt at this kind of at this kind of project, you did a really nice job. I'm glad you gave it a shot. -
Monthly Figure Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Scouter, I think that the skin flap you are talking about is mainly just how you interpret the pattern and how you bevel or shade above the eye. I wonder if adding a line in the pattern would have made a lot of difference. I think whyAl Stohlman changed his patterns when he wrote Figure Carving Finesse book. Instead of dotted lines, going to shaded areas the defined muscle definition. Paul Burnett touches on that in some of his instructional material too. It would be interesting if someone good at drawing patterns and familiar with that technique would take a stab at redrawing this pattern. -
untilSculpted leather weekend with Cheryl Smeja at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., Mineral Point WI 53565. 608-987-3292
-
Celtic knots on leather with Cheryl Smeja at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts, 18 Shake Rag St., Mineral Point WI 53565. 608-987-3292
-
Fiebing's low VOC???
ClayB replied to Skeltron's topic in Dyes, Antiques, Stains, Glues, Waxes, Finishes and Conditioners.
I'm with Alex on the Eco Flow dyes. I have been using them some and the more I use them, the more I like them. I'd recommend giving them a try. -
Monthly Floral Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Hey Brent, I didn't mean to confuse you, but I make up the rules as I go. When I started this, I didn't know there would be two, now there are. I didn't want to leave anyone out just because they don't do figure carving, so now there's two catagories. Some month there might be more, some less, who knows. It probably got more confusing when I merged Pete's post into this topic, and didn't realize the title changed. Now I edited both topic titles and everyone will probably be completly lost. Who put me in charge of this anyway????? -
That's a great story too Marlon. One thing that you will find out is that most of the masters in this craft are just like that. I met Bob Beard, Verlane Desgrange, Jan Schoonover, Geroge Hurst, Bill Gomer, Pete Gorrell, Al Gould that same trip and every one of the treats you the same way. Tony Laier and Jim Linnell I met later but they are also the same. Most of them Stohlman award winners and a couple future winners I would bet, are just great people and we are all pretty lucky that they are willing to share so much with those of us that are wanting to learn. There are lots of folks here on this forum that are trying to follow the example they set for us.
-
Marlon, That reminds me of the first time I had seen Peter's work. We were coming back from a family vacation to Yellowstone and I wanted to stop and King's museum in Sheridan to see the Al Stholman exhibit they had set up there. Everything I knew to that point had come from Al and Ann's books. While I was there, I noticed a table that had some leather pictures on it, looked like they were packing them up in boxes. I got to looking, and was just blown away. I had never seen anything like this stuff before. His buffalo picture and his bear picture that you can see on his site are what inspired me to take my work in a completely different direction. Not too long after that, I had a lady from New York contact me and ask her if I could make her a notebook with a golden retriever and german shepard dog on the front. This was something out of my comfort zone, but I told her I would try if she wasn't in any hurry. I worked on trying to carve dog faces for weeks and just kept getting more and more frustrated. Then I found a Yahoo group called Pictorial Carvers that was for leather carvers that did figure carving. There weren't a lot of members but there were some of the real masters. Peter, Silva, Billy 2 Shews. I finally sent pictures of my failed attempts to that group, and Peter asked for copy of the pattern I was using. A few days later, I get a package in the mail and Peter had taken my pattern and drawn over it, fixing all the mistakes. The new pattern made all the difference in the world. Silva and Billy were just as helpful. Silva did a carving and coloring lesson for me that are up on her website Later that year I had a chance to go to Sheridan for my fist big leather show. First thing I did when I got there was find a pay phone to call home. While I was talking to my wife, here comes Peter walking down the hall and into the bar. When I got off the phone, I went in and saw him sititing with a group of other Australians. I just sat at the bar for a while, had a couple drinks, and worked up some courage. When he came to the bar to get a round, I went up and introduced myself to him. He invited me to come sit at his table with his friends. Me, a nobody from ND and him, one of the finest leather artists in the world and his friends. WOW! Next day, I took my first real leather class other than a beginner class at Tandy years ago from Bob Beard. That was a whole nother experience! Then, after the class I am walking donw the hallway and meet up with Peter again and he acts like we have been friends for life. I tell him I heard some interesting stories about him in the class with Bob, so Peter sits me down on a bench and spends the next half hour or so telling his side of the stories. I've never gotten the chance to take a class from Peter, but he sure is a great guy, fun to be around, and has helped me out when I needed it. I understand what you mean about being envious of yourself!
-
Monthly Figure Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Beezachopper, I thought it looked embossed from the original pictures, thanks for sending more. Using the cams for hairing is something I had forgotten about. Al used to do that on some of his animals. That's the kind of things I was hoping for with this challenge, lots of different ideas and techniques to get your results. -
Monthly Figure Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Bezzachopper, Did you emboss yours slightly? It kind of looks like it, but I cant tell for sure. I also don't know if it needs whiskers. I think they look pretty good without them, and some of them look good with them. I think it's just a personal decision on them. What did you use for hairing, and is there a reason you didn't do it on the head? Not that there's anything wrong with it, just wondering. -
Tina, That looks like it REALLY turned out nice! I hope we get to see bigger pictures of the carving when you are done. I think you will know a lot about lacing by the time you get finished with it, and it's gonna be neat.
-
Monthly Floral Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Hey Pete, They both look really nice! That's what I was hoping for was new and different ideas, the "what if's". Normally inverted carving is done so there is no background, but with the ridge you left around the carving, I like it. Didn't think I would, but I do. The other one would probably be called sihillouette (I have no idea how you spell that) carving. It looks really neat with the turned back parts left untooled. Both different, both fun, both really well done. Thanks for the neat ideas! Clay -
For a long time I wondered if I would ever develop my own style, but I think it's started to come out. I do mostly pictures these days and the thing I'd like my carving style to be considered is realistic art. Then I go and put feathers on a buffalo, but I still want the feathers to look realistic. I think that my style is influenced by two things, the place I live, and the people who's work I admire and try to learn from. I spend a lot of time outdoors, so nature will always be part of what I do. As for who's work I admire, the list is long and I try to take a little from all of them and blend it into something that is my own. Since I usually just make things that I want to make, I don't have to worry about what a customer or anyone else wants. I hope that my style never is fully developed, but continually growing and changing.
-
Monthly Figure Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Horsehairbraider, I was told once that good color can improve a not so good carving and in this case, your coloring really adds to your carving. Then on the other hand they also said poor coloring can ruin a good carving which is more often true in my case. I'd be really interested in seeing a picture of the tools you are using if you could share one. I use a scalpel for some things on my pictures, but I cant imagine trying to carve the pattern with it. It has to be challenging to try and do this with tools that were designed for something else. Yes the idea here is to share our opinions and try to help, I just dont ever want to discourage anyone or cause any hurt feelings. Sometimes when typing, it's hard for people to tell exactly what the intent is. Scouter, The coloring with the woodburning tool looks neat. I have a couple of those that I thought I would try using on leather, but haven't gotten around to it yet. -
Tina, Usually lacing looks better with the slits from the chisel. With holes, depending on the lace you use, some of the hole wont be filled up. You probably have instructions to help you out, but here are some tips if you dont. To punch holes with the chisel, scribe a line however far away from the edge you want the lace. Then when punching the holes with say a 4 prong chisel, punch the first set of holes. If you put the first prong on the chisel in the last hole punched when you move it, it will keep your spacing right. When you get to a corner, I usually punch a longer slit, at an angle. When lacing at the corner, you will usually go through the corner hole 3 times and the hole on either side of it twice. When pulling the lace tight, always try and use the same amount of tension and it'll look better when you are done. Then when you are all finished lacing, I will put a piece of leather over the lacing and tap the lacing down with a hammer. It sets the lace and makes it look nicer. If you have any questions, ask away. There are people here with more experience lacing than me and they will be able to give you lots of tips if you have any problems.
-
it's warming up here in ND too. Yesterday morning -26F, windchill of -54. This morning it was only -10 and it got up to -3 awhile ago. HEAT WAVE!!!
-
Monthly Floral Carving Challenge
ClayB replied to ClayB's topic in Special Events, Contests and Classes
Aaron, Both are for February. Figure carving isn't everyone's thing, so I thought I give them more than one option but you can sure do both and I'd encourage you to do that if you have time. -
Ya, well you better Marlon cuz otherwise me and this fish here are gonna have to take a road trip :fish: The fish, he says you dont look all that mean in your picture :D
-
For those of you that don't do figure carving (you figure carvers can play too!) here is floral pattern for you to try. This pattern was sent to me by Kathy Flanagan aka Yaklady. Thanks Kathy! Same things goes here as with the figure carving challenge. You can carve this anyway you like, use whatever tools you want, change it, add your own touches, just have fun with it. If you have any questions, comments, discussion, feel free to add it here and hopefully we will all learn something from it.
-
I really like that second one, the one sitting on the chair. That's a really neat design. You come up with some really interesting and imaginative ideas for these, and your masks. It's always fun to see your latest stuff.