GrayHallidayJr

Thank you! A Neal Young song reference for a cute hippie girl. She knows a lot about the moon. Thanks! Thank you! I’m still trying to do traditional Sheridan style. It always comes out messed up. Like an adolescent cartoonist got hold of some leather tools. Thanks! Definitely dialing in the detail work more. Discovering new ways to achieve better results. I’ve never taken a class or anything so I’m just making stuff up as I go along. Thanks! It’s a bit wacky. It’s always inspiring to see the work of others. It makes me want to improve.

Thanks! Inspiration and creativity comes and goes at their own pace. Was able to bottle some up over the break.

Thank You! Good to be back. I was feeling a little out of practice and this one took longer than before I took a 9 month break. I moved and had my tools boxed away. Just took a long time to get unpacked and set up.

It’s been a while since I’ve been at the bench. Here’s one for a cinnamon girl.

Uh, that’s a self portrait...

Thank you! Thank you! This one took about three days. After a three week break from drawing and carving I was swept up by some inspiration. Thank you! Some of the starburst coloring turned out real nice on this one. Nice fades. Everybody likes the bright colors but white is the hardest to do right. There’s a lot of white on this one. Getting consistency on that counter, dove and subway tiles was a challenge. Starting to create some options for the Leather Show competition in Prescott.

Yes, it is a robot in underpants.

Thank you! Thank you!

I want to be modest and say the right thing like, “I have no business being compared to those heroes’” but all I’m doing is that happy dog “air scratch’” thing. Thanks, Man!

Thank you! I had fun making that one. That is a kind compliment. Thank you. My sense of hummer has always been off. As well as my artistic style. I’m working on some designs for a leather carving competition in March. Knowing that the judges are very traditional in their own carving style, I’m having a hard time deciding whether or not to try to do something more traditional Western/realism for the competition or stay true to my own weird style/subject matter. I don’t know.

What leather were you referring to? Wickett and Craig. alpha2, I don’t want to misrepresent myself. It was made for “the” Lucinda. We have a mutual friend, a great guitar maker, who said he’d pass it along if I made one for her. Don’t know if she’ll ever use it, or like it, or even see it, but, yes, “the” Lucinda.

Done right. Quality construction. Working man craftsmanship. Nice!

Bulgarian https://www.facebook.com/sergeyneskromniy Thank you! Thanks, Bodean. Keep cool. 2 "sweets" in the comment section. I'm feeling proud! Thank you. Thanks, Sport! While working on this project I spent much time hoping that the result would irk you. Thank you for the compliments and satisfaction. Again, you've made my day. Bwah Haha. Thank you. I use a combination of Japanese inks mixed with stains. I prefer Japanese inks to German inks. Bikermutt, do you work for the site? I see you are one of the most prolific posters here. You're always posting valuable information and offering good advice. They should pay you. That recommendation on leather source was right on. Love this last hide. The way it cuts and absorbs stains- such a difference. I like her latest album. Yeah, thanks everyone for the encouragement. I've been busy with work lately and haven't been spending that much time at the bench. A few belts here and there and these last two guitar straps. I think I might head up to Prescott in February for that Southwestern leather show event thingy. I missed last year. The same event, the year before was the first and only leather show I've ever attended. Went solo and had a blast. This time I might take a class. It's a tough decision; Do I buy three Barry King tools or take a private lesson with a Master? Last time I opted for the tools. I needed them. I didn't have a swivel knife prior to that last show (my competition submission was done with an exacto knife and switchblade. I didn't win.). I left Prescott with a lime green Leather Wrangler SK and started that night in the hotel room on the backside of Whiskey Row. Howl!

House of Custom guitar strap- snake drapes over shoulder with viper head on the back.

Thank you.

Thank you. Patience. I don't always have it. Take your time applying the resist with a brush. And let dry. Add another coat. Repeat. Pro Resist is thicker than the clear lac or sheen stuff. If you add three or four layers it starts to build up kind of like a plastic coating. It can really pull up the colors from the stained leather. It gives it a depth. Also, you can get a cool fading effect by applying intense heat to drying sheen or resist. I will sometimes place the piece next to a fire just after applying. It gets darker in the cuts and corners. Thank you. Thank you. That is a very nice compliment. Thank you. My style hasn't evolved since I was 12.

Thank you. For me, female faces are the most difficult thing to carve. I catch myself holding my breath while carving the face. It has to be so delicate. With female faces, I find fewer cuts are better. The modeling spoon discolors dampened leather “aging” the skin and also inhibits stain absorption- so I try to use it sparingly. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

I stain the artwork then apply Fiebing’s Pro-Resist. Then antique around/over. Then seal with a clear gloss.

@GrayHallidayJr House of Custom guitar strap. Lined back with black calf over neoprene padding.

Thanks! I went with a slightly shorter billet at 6" from center hole. I usually go 6.5" between center hole and billet tip. With the extra half inch, I can add initials or a little art piece. On this one I left the billet plain and I'm liking the stubbier 6". What length do you use?

It had been a long time since I've made a belt for myself so I carved up a Bar Brawler. It's my take on Sheridan style, with a bar fight worked in. The back is lined with black calf liner. I found the belt buckle on ebay, "Gary's Casino South Lake Tahoe Nevada." I looked it up on wikipedia and it existed for a couple of years in the seventies. Cast brass with engraving on the inside saying, "FANTASTIC FOOD TOO!" Then it has the phone number and it reads, "NEVADA STATE LINE." A cool buckle. It could fit a 2" strap but I think I'll keep the 1.5" on there- I like the way the buckle slants a bit when I wear it. I've got a big collection of old buckles to swap out but this Gary's Casino one is the right fit for the artwork.

Thanks! I had a few of those monkeys through my early adulthood. Then I got married. That's a really nice compliment. Never thought I'd be mentioned in the same sentence as that legend! I love leatherwork.

Thanks, Hombre! Yes, thanks for noticing! I sign it in the raw backside of the hide in front of the "bend" in the belt. I glue cut up cut outs of golden era comic books from the 1930's to the back, with my signature. I find this to increase luck ny 67%. It is thinner through the "buckle section" or bend. On this one, with the billet tip, I skived the billet tip as well. I don't really know what I'm doing! I wish I knew what the rules are, so I could at least enjoy breaking them! Seriously, I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm actually trying to do it right, very poorly.