first carving

[Chris B]

Hey all. Well here is my first carving. Im sorry its so big, I dont have a clue on how to resize them. But this is my first leather carving, could you please help me and tell me how to make it look better? Thanks!

[CitizenKate]

welder, that's a great first carving. Your knife cuts are unusually smooth and clean for a first try, so you appear to already have some comfort with the swivel knife.

It looks like you may be struggling a bit with the beveler, though. Not a problem, that's what everyone struggles with at the beginning - Lord knows, I sure did! (I'll post a couple of photos later to show you what I mean.) Two things I think will make it easier for you...

- Make your "walking" beveler impressions closer together.

- Make two lighter passes, instead of one heavier pass.

Two things to try if you would like more defined, smoother backgrounds...

- Try running a beveler around the inside of your backgrounded areas after backgrounding.

- After beveling an area, hold the work at an angle to your work light and rotate it, looking for uneven areas, then tap them lightly down with your backgrounder as you spot them. Sometimes it's hard to see the uneven areas when light is at a more direct angle while you're working. Turning them at a sharper angle to the light helps you to spot those areas more easily.

Hope this helps, and definitly do keep posting your work - you're off to a great start!

Kate

[Chris B]

Thanks kate, for thinking it looks good! And with the beveler, you mean to just overlap them more? And how deep (i guess is the right word) do you usualy go with the beveler? And im sorry here, but are you saying to turn the beveler around and go over the place where i backrounded? Im confuzzeled.

Thanks,

Chris

[CitizenKate]

...you mean to just overlap them more? And how deep (i guess is the right word) do you usualy go with the beveler?

Exactly, overlap them more. The impressions should overlap by 60-75%.

As far as how deep... can't say exactly, just go lighter than you do now, then come back with another lighter pass, and see if you think it looks smoother.

And im sorry here, but are you saying to turn the beveler around and go over the place where i backrounded? Im confuzzeled.

Right, just work the leading edge of the beveler on the inside edge of the backgrounded area. This causes the edges of the backrounded area to be "tucked in", so it looks more defined. I'll try to post a photo of what I'm talking about if this doesn't make sense.

Hope this helps...

Kate

[Chris B]

Ok Kate, I think i know what you are saying with this. I will try it again and see how it comes out.

Thanks Alot,

Chris

[Rayban]

Chris, I believe for your first attempt, this is outstanding!. (In Marine talk, don't get any better than that!)

You'll improve by accident, just keep doing more of it.

I envy good carving work on account of I don't have the patience for it.

RG

Edited December 4, 2007 by Rayban

[electrathon]

When I first started I was told to do the same pattern 4 times. It is amazing how you will see your work improve.

[Billsotx]

Not bad welder. Turn your deco cuts around. Most folks don't learn that molding right off. Makes it clean. Keep that piece, save scrap work like that and look back to see improvement. It's inspiring. Learned that from Verlane. She had stuff from her teens. Doing it four times ain't a bad idea. Repetition is the mother of skill.

[gearsmithy]

That's pretty good for your first attempt. You should've seen my first piece. I felt like a pig on skates making it and the craftsmanship looked like it was done with a lawnmower.

[BruceGibson]

That's your first one?! Well done! Keep on rockin'--you're on the right track.