1st oak leaf! How ugly is it?

[DieselTech]

Guys & gals here is my 1st tooled oak leaf. How bad did I do? 

Yeah there is mistakes & I got a lot of learning & practice to come. 

I found out I want a set of hand petal lifters, I do better with my homemade lifter. 

Thanks for looking.

[tsunkasapa]

Not bad for a first time. If I were to make a suggestion it would be to make your decorative cuts more flowing. Here are the same ones that I did for a checkbook so you can see what I'm referring to.

[DieselTech]

39 minutes ago, tsunkasapa said:

Not bad for a first time. If I were to make a suggestion it would be to make your decorative cuts more flowing. Here are the same ones that I did for a checkbook so you can see what I'm referring to.

Thanks. Yeah I got carried away with my decorative cuts. & yes mine are too straight & too many. 

I was wanting to try a leaf liner on it, but decided not to. 

Yours looks great, by the way. 

Yes I take suggestions, as a learning process so feel free. 

Thanks for the input. 

[Ddat]

I like it. The random cuts seem to make it more realistic. Maybe refine your style but I don't see anything wrong with the oak leaves.

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, Ddat said:

I like it. The random cuts seem to make it more realistic. Maybe refine your style but I don't see anything wrong with the oak leaves.

Thanks Ddat. Yeah I figure the only way to learn is to pick the tools up & start practicing. 

Lol I got a lot of finesse work to practice & I definitely cant draw. Lucky me for tracings & tap-offs. 

I'm slowly learning.

Thanks again for the encouragement. 

[Ddat]

I can't draw all that great, either. I'll try to find my first terrible oak leaf and post it.

[JLSleather]

well, uhm... yah.

The worst thing you did to yourself here is ALL THAT BACKGROUND. It's a bit tough to keep an even surface with that large a background. It can be done, but often looks nice without going to all of that.

Consider just a light "accent" around the design, and leave the rest natural.

[DieselTech]

50 minutes ago, JLSleather said:

well, uhm... yah.

The worst thing you did to yourself here is ALL THAT BACKGROUND. It's a bit tough to keep an even surface with that large a background. It can be done, but often looks nice without going to all of that.

Consider just a light "accent" around the design, and leave the rest natural.

Thanks. I'll give that a try. I just got into leather carving & I'm learning. That was me wanting to play with my new stamp tools too. Lol like a fat kid in a candy store. 

[jarheaddoc]

I am a long ways away from being able to do something like that. Did you hand draw the pattern? Is there a way to get the acorns more round vs. pointed? That said, I like it, it's unique.

[DieselTech]

1 hour ago, DieselTech said:

Thanks. I'll give that a try. I just got into leather carving & I'm learning. That was me wanting to play with my new stamp tools too. Lol like a fat kid in a candy store. 

I used a tap off on mine, instead of drawing it.  I'm terrible at drawing or to OCD I guess. But yeah you could draw/cut your acorns any way you see pleased.