Frayed01 Report post Posted March 14, 2008 These were my first 2 Figure carving attempts,the Christine Stanley eagle was done in 1978,on a piece of leather donated by a friend,I had just got my new "tools",and couldn't wait for my leather to arrive. The Dutch barge was done in 1979,the design was taken from a sailing chart I had used on holiday,sailing on the Isselmeer in Holland,the original sketch was about one and a half inches square. Every other piece of work I did was either sold,or donated to auctions for charities,I just like carving,but this time around I think I'll keep a few. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Just posted on the Figure Carving forum. My first 2 attempts at Figure carving,the Christine Stanley Eagle,was the first attempt in July 78,the dutch barge was copied from a sketch on a chart after a sailing holiday,the original sketch was one and a half inches square. I thought they were pretty good for a first attempt,but when I look at them now I see all the mistakes I made with the tools,thankfully I got better. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ClayB Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Really nice job Dave. I especially like all the detail you got into the ship. Can't wait to see what you are doing these days, hope there are more pictures to come. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tina Report post Posted March 14, 2008 I think they're both really great. My favvo being the eagle, I have this thing for preditor birds. Thanks for sharing:-) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Just posted on the Figure Carving forum. My first 2 attempts at Figure carving,the Christine Stanley Eagle,was the first attempt in July 78,the dutch barge was copied from a sketch on a chart after a sailing holiday,the original sketch was one and a half inches square. I thought they were pretty good for a first attempt,but when I look at them now I see all the mistakes I made with the tools,thankfully I got better. Dave The problem with the eagle,is that I was to heavy with the mulefoot stamp when doing the body feathers. I have done numerous other versions,and pressed the tool into the leather by hand,to get a much more subtle finish. I am also greatly ashamed of the swivel knife work,but at the time I had badly damaged my right index finger,which resulted in it remaining rigid,which made carving a bit difficult,I have since learned to live with it. :D Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spider Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Oh yeah, I see the flaws too.......YEAH RIGHT!!! WTH your first?!?!?! :wtf: These are good. Now put the real ones with the flaws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Oh yeah, I see the flaws too.......YEAH RIGHT!!! WTH your first?!?!?! :wtf: These are good. Now put the real ones with the flaws. Spider At the time I did the eagle,I was serving in Northern Ireland,my parents had been to visit relatives who lived near Fort Worth,they dropped in to Tandy,took out a years subscription to Make It With Leather,and bought me a Mega Tandy Leathercraft Kit. Sent the magazine,then sent the tools when they got back to the UK,2 months later,I had read the mag back to front a million times,so when I got the tools,I did the obligatory rounder to find out what they did,and carved the eagle a week later. After that I funded my carving by making pancake and sprung shoulder holsters for the guys who needed them,which improved my saddle stitching skills no end (but killed my hands),I just took it from there. This time round,I have to travel to London,to select my leather(I like to pick my own hides),but every time I want to go,another problem occurs,so it looks like after Easter before I can get back to it,rest assured as soon as I've started it will be on here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spider Report post Posted March 14, 2008 Awesome. I look forward to seeing more of your work. This is truely a great place to learn and showcase. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TomSwede Report post Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) That is some impressive first carvings (heck, even if they came from an experienced carver they would rock). Looks like you got it in your blood! I especially like the way you carved and tooled the waves around the ship, elegant. Eagle is wicked too! What are you up to theese days? Tom Edited March 14, 2008 by TomSwede Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete Report post Posted March 14, 2008 would you be kind enough to show exactly WHERE you really messed up with your knife cuts? I would hate to make miserable mistakes on my attempts! Great work pete Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 15, 2008 would you be kind enough to show exactly WHERE you really messed up with your knife cuts? I would hate to make miserable mistakes on my attempts!Great work pete Hi Pete, With hindsight (wonderful gift),I considered the whole of the head/beak area to be badly cut. All the cuts are of a uniform depth,which means that the outline split between the upper and lower beak isn't as thin and in scale as it should be,and the "bumpy" bit with the "nostril" should have been carved deeper to give the impression of the roundness/bulge,but as I say I was cutting with my index finger in a steel splint,which meant using another finger was awkward,and I hadn't learned the subtlety of using the swivel knife at that time. That said I keep it just because it was my first attempt,and every version I have done since has been an improvement,I do like the wing and tail feathers,but don't like the visible leading edge,which again was a very heavy handed use of a mulefoot,which I now tend to use with thumb pressure alone. As for the Dutch sailing barge,that's my wifes favourite,even though I've done better versions of that as well! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 15, 2008 That is some impressive first carvings (heck, even if they came from an experienced carver they would rock). Looks like you got it in your blood!I especially like the way you carved and tooled the waves around the ship, elegant. Eagle is wicked too! What are you up to theese days? Tom Thanks for the compliment Tom,I am currently waiting to go buy some leather in London,also working out some new wildlife patterns (Otter,Barn Owl,Curlew,Avocet,Puffin),I'm currently selling my Honda NX650,as I've just had revision surgery on 20 year old hip replacement,and have been banned from riding trail bikes by,the boss(my wife),and the orthopeadic surgeon who did the op (Bummer) So I should have plenty of money to re-equip myself with tools ect. I think the first few will be about 2.5 feet, 1.5 feet,and then come down in size as I get back in to cutting tighter curves. Dave P.S. I started riding in the 60's,so maybe it's about time to stop trying to go around bends quickly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sheathmaker Report post Posted March 15, 2008 You are extremely talented...................and that about sums it up. thank you for posting. Paul Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frayed01 Report post Posted March 15, 2008 You are extremely talented...................and that about sums it up. thank you for posting.Paul Thanks Paul,but there are still people on these forums,whose talents I would kill for,so much more to learn! Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
