looking for hints and pointers as well

[chuckdamage]

Hello this is my third time doing this design. I have learned much, but I can always learn more. I want to do it on a wallet next so please critique, even nit pick. I am not 100 percent happy with the line under the teeth, please give me some advice on that too.

Edited September 20, 2009 by chuckdamage

[MADMAX22]

Looks like you have the general idea and design layed out pretty good. However I think you need to work on your carving and beveling basics.

I would look at trying a simpler design first if you can. Not sure how thick of leather you have but get some and lay out some circles, wavy lines, odd shapes and such. Now try cutting these lines and shapes with your swivel knife but when you do look at the depth of feild that your trying to accomplish and vary your knife cutting depth accordingly. Dont be afraid to make some deeper knife cuts. This will allow the project to pop out more.

After your done cutting get to beveling being sure to work at getting nice clean beveling without ridges and variations. Be sure to walk your beveler around the edge of the knife cut so you cant see any lines from the knife cuts. Keep the beveler pointed straight up and down.

Now after you do some of these practices go back to your design and think about whats background, foreground, and how when you cut this time cut deeper at say the outline and other areas you want to stand out more. then bevel harder in those areas and lighter where it fades into areas you dont want to be as distinct.

Keep at it, and be sure to post up some more work.

[chuckdamage]

Thank you!!! I am using the 8.5 by 11 tooling leather from hobby lobby, I have practice leather coming from springfield. Today marks one week that I have been tooling and any advice I get helps tremendously. The relaxation that comes from tooling is second only to riding my bike. Please keep the hints coming!

[MADMAX22]

Ahh good, youll get some better stuff from springfeild. It helps alot.

Just keep reading the site here and practicing. Itll all start coming together the more you learn and do it. Ive been hanging out here for allmost two years now and still learning something new allmost everyday. Sometimes Ill just go thru old threads and look at peoples projects and see how they did little things that can help me with mine. Gives ya inspiration.

[resqman]

There are many locations where you can see specific tool marks or stamps. The idea is to blend the stamping so you see texture not a tool mark.

Generally every knife cut is beveled. Then you add your texture with background tools. It looks like in several locations you used the backgrounder without bevelling first. The square edges of your background tool did not produce round goggles. Backgrounders in the same pattern are available in a tear drop shape to allow you to fit into small areas and round areas.

Try using some shaders instead of only backgrounders. The shaders will depress low areas and give height to the untooled areas adding diminsion to your work. Shaders are availabe in smooth, lined, and checkered faces so you can still get all the texture but also add depth.

Use the backgrounders for areas like the goggle lenses, eye holes, and gaping mouth. Use the shaders to add depth on most of the other areas. A figure beveler may also be employed to add depth to the skull.

If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. If you only have a backgrounder, then everything looks like background.