Help carve a butterfly

[DieselTech]

Guys & gals dont laugh to bad, but I'm trying to learn & teach myself figure/floral carving thru reading & videos. 

Can any of you professionals give me a couple pointers on carving a butterfly? I'm trying to do a coin purse for Christmas & would like to carve a butterfly on the back of it. 

Thanks any & all help/pointers will be greatly appreciated. 

[RockRash]

I'm absolutely no professional but that looks like a good start to me. I usually do a few practice pieces before I do the final project and that looks typical of one of my practice pieces. I would say just keep at it until your satisfied. 

[DieselTech]

34 minutes ago, RockRash said:

I'm absolutely no professional but that looks like a good start to me. I usually do a few practice pieces before I do the final project and that looks typical of one of my practice pieces. I would say just keep at it until your satisfied. 

Thanks RockRash I appreciate the comment & encouragement. 

I did swivel cut another 1 & the swivel cuts look better. I Also think a set of steep angle bevelers would help. I'll practice some more. Lmao I guess at least it somewhat resembles a butterfly. 

[RockRash]

2 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Thanks RockRash I appreciate the comment & encouragement. 

I did swivel cut another 1 & the swivel cuts look better. I Also think a set of steep angle bevelers would help. I'll practice some more. Lmao I guess at least it somewhat resembles a butterfly. 

I think it looks good just needs refinement. I'll be honest the the biggest improvement to my tooling was after I bought a set of Barry King bevelers. Practice with them and you will never go back to craft tool bevelers. They aren't labeled but I'll go out in the morning and tell you the numbers I use most. I started messing around with this about a year ago and the bevelers are by far my favorite tools. 

[DieselTech]

20 minutes ago, RockRash said:

I think it looks good just needs refinement. I'll be honest the the biggest improvement to my tooling was after I bought a set of Barry King bevelers. Practice with them and you will never go back to craft tool bevelers. They aren't labeled but I'll go out in the morning and tell you the numbers I use most. I started messing around with this about a year ago and the bevelers are by far my favorite tools. 

Yeah I started buying some Barry King tools here & there. I might buy his #2 starter set, think its 18 tools total. BK curved thumb print set I'm starting to like. 

I got mostly high end stamps, lmao probably more then I need. But I'm starting to find out the stamps got uses in other spots.

My 2nd butterfly looks better, I think. I'm doing a super shene resist on it. I'll post some follow up pics 2mrow. 

[RockRash]

4 minutes ago, DieselTech said:

Yeah I started buying some Barry King tools here & there. I might buy his #2 starter set, think its 18 tools total. BK curved thumb print set I'm starting to like. 

I got mostly high end stamps, lmao probably more then I need. But I'm starting to find out the stamps got uses in other spots.

My 2nd butterfly looks better, I think. I'm doing a super shene resist on it. I'll post some follow up pics 2mrow. 

It stopped raining so I went out and looked. I have 00, 0, 1, 2. The 00 and 1 are the ones I use the most. The 2 is nice for borders but I use a push beveler for that now.

[DieselTech]

19 minutes ago, RockRash said:

It stopped raining so I went out and looked. I have 00, 0, 1, 2. The 00 and 1 are the ones I use the most. The 2 is nice for borders but I use a push beveler for that now.

Are them the checkered Barry King bevelers? I see BK has lined bevelers too by that leather stamping. 

Thanks for letting me know your most common use size of bevelers. I appreciate it. 

[RockRash]

11 minutes ago, DieselTech said:

Are them the checkered Barry King bevelers? I see BK has lined bevelers too by that leather stamping. 

Thanks for letting me know your most common use size of bevelers. I appreciate it. 

Yes, they are checkered standerd bevelers. 

[DieselTech]

Well practice butterfly #2 with a super shene resist. I think it looks better. Lol too bad i cant merge parts for 1butterfly to the other or vice versa. 

I'm thinking for my 1st two figure carvings, they are not overly bad. 

[RockRash]

16 hours ago, DieselTech said:

Well practice butterfly #2 with a super shene resist. I think it looks better. Lol too bad i cant merge parts for 1butterfly to the other or vice versa. 

I'm thinking for my 1st two figure carvings, they are not overly bad. 

That looks great! Alot smoother and cleaner. Again not a expert but I think practicing a few times before the actual project makes a world of difference. I'd be very happy with what you have done there. 

PS: my wife was looking at my screen as I was typing and said you did a great job.