Black bear - how can I improve it

[techniques]

At present I’m working on a picture from a black bear. It is a tutorial from Jan Schoonover which was published in the Leather Crafters & Saddlers Journal. I like Jan’s leather work and would like to learn more about them. From 1995 till 2000 I had the privilege to take part on some of Robb Barr’s workshops. I guess Robb and Jan did nearly the same type of leather work although Jan did yet more sculpting the leather. Maybe his leather work looks different but I haven’t seen original work of Jan. I have only seen photos of his work. So I didn’t know it for sure.

The black bear is nearly ready. I have yet to modelling the teeths and lips, stiffen the hairing, doing the backgrounding and coloring. But before I finish it I would like to ask if anybody can tell me how I can improve the bear or what could be better done.

ClayB could you please take a hard look on the picture? I know you have taken some workshops from Jan. Of course critique from everybody is welcome. Please note the darker parts on the leather are those parts where I have filled leather putty in.

Greetings

Gisela

[MADMAX22]

Sorry I cant add any advice as I havnt done that style of leather work before so just wanna say it looks really good so far. You allready got the advice I would give ya which is check out Rob Bar's stuff and take a look at some of Clays work from here on the forums.

Make sure you post the finished product.

[ClayB]

Hi Gisela,

It looks to me like you are doing a really nice job on the bear! You've shown some pretty good close up pictures, but it's still difficult to tell a few things from the photos. So I'm going to give you some general tips that maybe you've already done, but I cant see.

On the third picture, where you put putty next to the nose as the putty dries, it can shrink away from the leather. Then you need to add more putty to fill in the gaps. Sometimes it takes several times to get a really smooth transition. When I'm trying to fill in these small gaps, I mix the putty a little wetter than the stuff you fill the back in with. That seems to make it easier to get it into the cracks. When the putty is still a little wet, I try to draw in hair on the putty with a scalpel. Once the putty is dry, it seems like the knife wants to grab at the putty and it makes it harder to cut the hair in it. One of the things that makes Jan's work look so good is that it's hard to tell where the leather ends and the putty begins. A lot of that is done with the paint, but getting the hair on the putty to blend in is pretty important too.

Other than that, just make sure there are no spots where you dont have hair cut in on the leather. Those spots really show up once the stiffener is put on.

Again, your bear looks really good so far. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.

[techniques]

Hi Gisela,

It looks to me like you are doing a really nice job on the bear! You've shown some pretty good close up pictures, but it's still difficult to tell a few things from the photos. So I'm going to give you some general tips that maybe you've already done, but I cant see.

On the third picture, where you put putty next to the nose as the putty dries, it can shrink away from the leather. Then you need to add more putty to fill in the gaps. Sometimes it takes several times to get a really smooth transition. When I'm trying to fill in these small gaps, I mix the putty a little wetter than the stuff you fill the back in with. That seems to make it easier to get it into the cracks. When the putty is still a little wet, I try to draw in hair on the putty with a scalpel. Once the putty is dry, it seems like the knife wants to grab at the putty and it makes it harder to cut the hair in it. One of the things that makes Jan's work look so good is that it's hard to tell where the leather ends and the putty begins. A lot of that is done with the paint, but getting the hair on the putty to blend in is pretty important too.

Other than that, just make sure there are no spots where you dont have hair cut in on the leather. Those spots really show up once the stiffener is put on.

Again, your bear looks really good so far. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished.

Hi Clay,

Thank you so much for taking a hard look on my picture. I will try to apply yet a wetter putty stuff in the gaps and will rework them all. I have yet often looked on Jan's picture in his gallery and could never find where he used putty and I envy you for the possibilities to take part on Jan's classes.

Because this was my first leather work since many years I wasn't sure where to put the putty in and how much putty I should take. Therefore I have removed the putty for several times and have tried it again and again. Unfortunately I have smeared some of the putty onto the leather. I have to rework this before I stiffen and color the picture.

Again many thanks for your critique. This is what I'm looking for and I appreciate your help very much.

Gisela

[ClayB]

Hi Gisela,

Part of the reason it's hard to tell where the leather ends and the putty begins on Jan's pictures is his attention to detail. He'll spend weeks on one picture to get the leather stretched out to where he wants it, filling in the putty, etc. Figuring out just how much putty to ues can be difficult. It takes practice, and trial and error. I don't think there is anything wrong with taking some out, or adding more. You just have to work it over when you are done to try hide it. Some of that can be done with the hairing technique. More of it can be hidden with the paint. It's not a big disaster if you get some of the putty on the leather either. You may be able to rub/scrape some of it off once it's dry. If you cant get it all off, try using a scalpel and cut hair into it to blend it in. The stiffener and paint will blend it in even more.

I consider myself really lucky to have gotten to know Jan and to have taken numerous classes from him. I'd have never gotten to where I am at this today without all his help. You're lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from Robb. I never got to meet him even though he only lived 150 miles away. I didn't know that until a few months before he died. I have gotten to be friends with his sister and brother in law and have had a chance to see a lot of his work. Both he and Jan are pretty amazing artists, and teachers. If there is anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask. It's fun to see what other people are doing with the extreme embossing techniques.

[techniques]

If there is anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask. It's fun to see what other people are doing with the extreme embossing techniques.

Dear Clay,

thank you again for your advice. At present I haven’t time to finish the bear, but I will follow your instruction when I work on the bear again.

I guess I have read here in the forum, that there are also videos and instructions from Jan are available. Last month I ordered some items from Hidecrafters and I asked them I there are video instructions or patterns from Jan Schoonover available, but they didn’t answer this question. They answered my other question, but not this one. Maybe they are yet on planning.

I have also tried to write to Jan, but I’m not sure if I have the correct address, because I haven’t also received an answer, but maybe he is not at home or I had the wrong Email addy.

I have also looked on you blog and read your description about your last workshop with Jan about horns, hair and feathers. I would appreciate if you would post some more detailed photos at the forum.

Here are some photos from a lynx with Eichelhaeher (this is similar to a blue jay, but an European Species of the jay). This wasn’t made during a workshop. It is my own work which I tried out after I saw a drawing in a book.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=17874

Greetings

Gisela

Edited July 12, 2009 by techniques

[ClayB]

Hi Gisela,

I don't think Hidecrafter carries any of Jan's instructional material. He has several of his patterns available, but most of them that I have are just pencil drawings. Some of them have arrows to show hair direction. I know he has a printed lesson on an Arabian horse, and I think he may have at least one more printed lesson but I am not sure what it is. And as you know, he's done a couple lessons in the Leather Crafters and Saddlers Journal. He has purchased equipment to start making videos, but so far he hasn't been happy with how they have turned out, so I dont think there are any available from him at this time. He has also expressed an interest in writting an instructional book, but I don't know if he has started on that either. I've taken a large amount of photos at all of the classes that I've attended and give copies of them to him after each class. He has said he'd like to use them in the book if he gets a chance to work on it. Jan doesn't have email as far as I know. If you used the contact form on his website, that would go to Bob, the guy that built the site. He will probably pass your message on to Jan, but I dont know how Jan will answer you. If you'd like, I can give you his mailing address and phone number.

I'll try and get some pictures of the hair and horns class posted soon.

You've done a really nice job on the lynx and the Eichelhaeher and on your eagle. It looks like you learned very well from Robb! I can see why he was proud of you.

Dear Clay,

thank you again for your advice. At present I haven’t time to finish the bear, but I will follow your instruction when I work on the bear again.

I guess I have read here in the forum, that there are also videos and instructions from Jan are available. Last month I ordered some items from Hidecrafters and I asked them I there are video instructions or patterns from Jan Schoonover available, but they didn’t answer this question. They answered my other question, but not this one. Maybe they are yet on planning.

I have also tried to write to Jan, but I’m not sure if I have the correct address, because I haven’t also received an answer, but maybe he is not at home or I had the wrong Email addy.

I have also looked on you blog and read your description about your last workshop with Jan about horns, hair and feathers. I would appreciate if you would post some more detailed photos at the forum.

Here are some photos from a lynx with Eichelhaeher (this is similar to a blue jay, but an European Species of the jay). This wasn’t made during a workshop. It is my own work which I tried out after I saw a drawing in a book.

http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=17874

Greetings

Gisela

[techniques]

Hi Gisela,

Jan doesn't have email as far as I know. If you'd like, I can give you his mailing address and phone number.

I'll try and get some pictures of the hair and horns class posted soon.

Hi Clay,

oh please, be so kind and give me Jan's address and telephone number. I will then try to call him and if I can reach him I will write a letter.

It would be great if you could post some photos of the horn and hair class. I'm looking forward to see them.

Greetings

Gisela

[ClayB]

Hi Gisela,

It's been awhile, but I think I have the pictures from Jan's Hair and Horns class somewhere where you can see them. I'd have put them on here, but as slow as that goes for me, I'd have probably pulled out all my hair and stared drinking again. Hopefully you can see them on my Dotphoto site. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Once you are in the album, clicking on a picture will enlarge it and allow you to see my descriptions of what is going on.

[techniques]

Dear ClayB,

thank you very much for the photos. I have sent you a PM.

Greetings

Gisela

Hi Gisela,

It's been awhile, but I think I have the pictures from Jan's Hair and Horns class somewhere where you can see them. I'd have put them on here, but as slow as that goes for me, I'd have probably pulled out all my hair and stared drinking again. Hopefully you can see them on my Dotphoto site. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll see what I can do. Once you are in the album, clicking on a picture will enlarge it and allow you to see my descriptions of what is going on.