Camouflage and Viener

[Davm]

Kseidel: I've been studying your work.  I think I am overdoing it with too many decorative cuts, too much stamping. Like the girl that puts on too much make up. Probably most beginners do the same thing. Your work has less but looks 100% better.  There is a 3d effect on the pear shading.  On the darker tones- stamp deeper or burnish the area more or a little of both?  Your stems have a rounded, natural effect and mine are flat with beveled edges. My leaves look the same, a flat leaf with pear shading on the inside and then a bevel around the perimeter of the leaf with a flat body.   How do you get that rounded effect? Work the area with a stylus? I realize it takes years to develop your level of work.  Once again, your work is outstanding?  

[kseidel]

Davm,  Some pics would help to troubleshoot your work.  There are a lot of variables, but I can probably give you some useful pointers if you can post a few pics of your work.  Keith

[Davm]

I'll see if can figure out how. I am sort of behind the times on some computer stuff.  Last night I practiced on some scraps and practiced on some scraps using the spoon end of the stylus and I did get a more rounded look.  I also tried the bevel, then stamp in certain areas and that was a big improvement.  The other thing I did, I was using the swivel knife to make all the cuts- still do that, but then did ALL the camouflage stamping for the whole works, then all the pear shading for the whole thing, etc.  Last night I did just one small area until that was what I wanted and then moved over to the next area and that seemed to work better for me. In any event I realize it is okay to think outside the box.  I practice a lot on scraps until it is about as good as I can do and then do an actual belt or holster.

[kseidel]

Davm,

Most of what you are dealing with most likely is relative to leather temper.  Casing leather and getting the right temper for stamping can be challenging!  Then add that different stamps need different temper and you are well on your way into the  rabbit hole!  The specific stamps you are using will also have an impact on the final look.  I do not use a modeling spoon on any of my floral carving.  Only swivel knife, and stamping tools.

[Davm]

Thanks. I already discovered that the temper of leather for a swivel knife is different than for the stamping I've done so I guess a lot of this is putting in the time.  I am actually keeping notes of what I have done that looks okay or nor okay. Some of it is by pure accident, I'll look at something I've done and if it looks pretty good- I'll immediately write down what I just did so I don't forget how I did it.  In any event, I'm having a lot of fun which is the whole thing if you are a newbie/hobbyist.  One thing I've noticed is at first I had no idea what I was doing.  Now I look at other examples of good carving and I can tell more what is being done and why it looks better.  So...a certain amount of careful studying is worthwhile.  I'll bet most newbies such as myself "overdo it". Too much stamping, decorative cuts, etc. in a haphazard manner when a careful analysis and making less marks but well made and well placed marks is at least one key. I'm learning that good carving considers a flow and that is very important.