Sheridan Pattern?

[Dusty2119]

Ok so I've never actually even carved a sheridan style pattern at all (still saving up to order a set of Barry King tools). But while saving up I figured I might try my hand at drawing a pattern so here is my first attempt at it (I hope it even qualifies as sheridan) I can point out some spots that I can tell look bad. The whole upper right seems out of place with the sudden stop of the stem and the position of the flower. My petals need alot of work and my stems as they seem to get skinny in spots. After getting it drawn up I think I could have made it look better if it was rotated to its side and then rotated the bottom right flower to face right side up (If that made any sense). Any critique and pointers are greatly appreciated as I need all the help I can get.

P.S. - The scanner didn't take well the first time so I tried to trace it in pen so sorry for some of the ink bleed.

[hidepounder]

Dusty,

That's pretty darn good for a first attempt! Some of my thoughts are...it will look a lot better if you will elongate all the lines that form your petals and other elements. Add more petals to the design. When designing these patterns it is helpful to draw a circle around each flower. When you draw petals on the outside of the circle, elongate the lines but do not let them cross the circle. The same thing holds for petals on the inside. The center of your vine should be the circle you originally drew. I start out by laying out my circles and then filling in the flowers and vines. Add petals so that the spacing between them is the same, over and over. Try to make the amount of background you create balance throughout the pattern. All your lines should be sweeping...not blunt. It's a great first attempt. Drawing patterns takes lots of practice and study of others work.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[jbird]

Thanks Bob for that advice it helps me

Josh

[JoshDuvall]

Dusty,

That's pretty darn good for a first attempt! Some of my thoughts are...it will look a lot better if you will elongate all the lines that form your petals and other elements. Add more petals to the design. When designing these patterns it is helpful to draw a circle around each flower. When you draw petals on the outside of the circle, elongate the lines but do not let them cross the circle. The same thing holds for petals on the inside. The center of your vine should be the circle you originally drew. I start out by laying out my circles and then filling in the flowers and vines. Add petals so that the spacing between them is the same, over and over. Try to make the amount of background you create balance throughout the pattern. All your lines should be sweeping...not blunt. It's a great first attempt. Drawing patterns takes lots of practice and study of others work.

Hope this helps,

Bob

Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. I have another question. Is it ok for the stem/vine to continue on past where it flows into the flower like it does on my bottom flower or is there a rule in the sheridan style that states that the flower has to be the very end of the stem? Or is it ok to continue the vine as long as I complete my circle? (Hope that makes sense).

Oh sorry for the member change I couldn't figure out how to just change my display name.

Edited April 22, 2009 by JoshDuvall

[hidepounder]

Thanks for the help I really appreciate it. I have another question. Is it ok for the stem/vine to continue on past where it flows into the flower like it does on my bottom flower or is there a rule in the sheridan style that states that the flower has to be the very end of the stem? Or is it ok to continue the vine as long as I complete my circle? (Hope that makes sense).

Oh sorry for the member change I couldn't figure out how to just change my display name.

Josh,

Continuing the vine is fine! It is also a good way to start....if the vine is continous you can branch off anywhere and you don't have a "starting" point.