belt and first sheridan attempt

[pino]

I tried myself at Sheridan style, and I know I have a long way to go.

I discovered the Sheridan style not long ago and for some reason it looked very familiar to me, so I started looking for the origin of this very elegant, intricate and refined way of carving. Now, I was born and raised in Rome (Italy);while doing the research, my visual memory suddenly took me back to my teens and I realized that all the ancient Roman monuments had that decoration style. I join some example of that; they come from different monuments dating before Christ. I thought useful to share that with ya'll and if you don't see any similarities or you have more information about it, just tell me.

Pino

[TomSwede]

Good looking practice pieces Pinto!!

Here's more to your theory, some sources suggests that the roman style is also what influenced vikings and celtic people to their wining knot style interweaved animal respectively dragon style ornaments. Some old churches in Norway that dates back to the end of the vikingperiod has detailed woodcarvings with motifs that mixes animal/dragons and vines. In Scandinavia the swirling vines designs remains into modern day. Maybe we can assume theese designs traveled from BC romans to modern day sheridan designs. We may never know for sure but it is interesting to search through history and a great reminder that it is hard to make original designs;-)

Attached pic is a modern drawing but the old churches in Norway has this kind of woodcarvings. I just couldn't find a picture of them.

Tom

[pino]

Thanks TomSwede, very interesting.

[Hilly]

Yes, this is a very interesting subject. Thanks for sharing.

Tom, are you going to carve the photo you just posted? It would make for a very interesting project!

[TomSwede]

Yes, this is a very interesting subject. Thanks for sharing.

Tom, are you going to carve the photo you just posted? It would make for a very interesting project!

Ha ha I'm too young to retire, lol. It could be made smallish and simplified but it's a great motif of the oneeyed one (yes, I realize that he's depicted with two eyes on this illustration) so definetly like to make it big and get all details with his beard and hair and all that and for that I want some more practice with figurecarving.

I'm glad you brought up the subject Pinto because the Roman and viking connection strikes me often when I see those florals here but I don't think I have mentioned it before. I have sometimes posted snippets of info I have on vikings and stuff. I'm known to be ranting and drifting off subject sometimes too, ha ha nowadays I don't seem to have time for it.

Tom

[Bree]

I'm not a Sheridan carver so I will focus on the belt. I think you did a nice job. The stamping looks great and the belt is clean. Good work!

[CitizenKate]

I discovered the Sheridan style not long ago and for some reason it looked very familiar to me, so I started looking for the origin of this very elegant, intricate and refined way of carving. Now, I was born and raised in Rome (Italy);while doing the research, my visual memory suddenly took me back to my teens and I realized that all the ancient Roman monuments had that decoration style. I join some example of that; they come from different monuments dating before Christ. I thought useful to share that with ya'll and if you don't see any similarities or you have more information about it, just tell me.

I definitely do see the similarities, Pino, and what a fascinating question to ask: Where did the Sheridan style of ornamental art originate from? In my references I see several examples of ornamental art from both Rome and France that are similar to the Sheridan style, mostly 13th century. I'll try to post images when I have more time and energy.

I wonder if anyone knows who was the first to carve what we now recognize as "Sheridan Style", and what his/her influences there might have been?

Kate

[bruce johnson]

Kate,

Don King is generally credited with being the guy who brought the Sheridan style to the forefront. Sheridan had a long traditon of saddlemaking before Don King got there though. He worked in a few shops around the country and worked with guys who had been around other shops. You hear a lot about "he took a flower from this style, the flowing circles from Visalia type patterns, the leaf from this or that guy and then tightened it all up". Some of it sure likes like that, but all these styles were and are all evolving and hard to pigeon hole. You can read about some of the influences and readings he borrowed from. There is a biography on him called King of the Western Saddle. I kind of recall that he did borrow from European architecture sketches and pictures as time went on. Another good read is Saddlemakers of Sheridan Wyoming.

One of my friends tells a story he heard from one of his mentors. Early on the NFR was in Dallas and this guy was working at a shop there. He thought he could tool a little and had seen some good work. He heard the trophy saddles were made by a guy named Don King. He figured he'd go take a look. He decide maybe he hadn't seen good work before. You can look at some of those early trophy saddles and see the style. In one of the books is a picture of a ropecan Don King did in the early 60s maybe, and it is just as neat today. We have one of the PRCA trophy saddles in the museum that Chester Hape did, and it is just as timeless.

[pino]

I'm not a Sheridan carver so I will focus on the belt. I think you did a nice job. The stamping looks great and the belt is clean. Good work!

Thanks Bree, that belt reconciled me with basket weave. I had a bad result on an other project, I did follow a BW tutorial for an angle stamping and came out messy. This time I just drew a middle line and stamped, it may not be fancy but at least I have an "harmonious outcome".

Thank you for noticing.

[pino]

Bruce, thanks for the background; I just received the Sheridan Book and it confirms what you're saying. Nice book and stunning pics.

Citizekate, I believe that Rome and other old european countries have influenced most of the western world as far as art is concerned and not only, but I also believe that the human minds follow the same path all over the world even when not in contact with each other. I've had the chance to travel almost all over and I've been surprised to come across some ancient graffitis in the Sahara desert as well as in the US or in Asia, dating way before those continents where discovered and the sketches are surprisingly the same. In conclusion I think that the artists have visions even without being influenced by others. Back to Sheridan style, whoever started or influenced it, it's a pleasure for the eyes.

Take care

Pino

[wood]

I agree that Don King is the "king" of Sheridan style. But like Bruce said, it is an always evolving art. I made a belt once with a pattern that was chiseled into the granite around the top of the courthouse here in LaGrange. Was it a truely Sheridan pattern? I don't know but it flowed well and had some good, clean, tight turnbacks in it.