Bugling elk

[ClayB]

Last summer when we passed through Missoula, Mt. we stopped at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation visitor center and I picked up a book there called Rocky Mountain Elk Portfolio, the Photography of Donald M Jones. This book is full of great elk pictures that I thought might be useful for some leather carving patterns. The first picture I wanted to make into a carving is a close up of a bugling elk. My first attempt at this I wanted to do flat and uncolored for a change. All the time I was working on it, the leather was begging me to emboss it, but I resisted the urge and left it flat. Here's the first attempt.

Almost as soon as I was finished with it, I just had to try it again to see how it would look embossed. I liked that one even better.

When I attended Kathy's last class in Rapid City, I took this along to show her what I was working on and she asked if she could use it as part of Columbine's guild display and I agreed, but told her I wanted it painted when I got it back. I was just joking (well, sort of) but I got it back yesterday and it was painted, and I think it's amazing!!! Kathy did a fabulous job with the coloring. Thanks Kathy!!

[Storm]

Gorgeous piece of figure carving!! I especially like your treatment on the antlers.

Storm

[MADMAX22]

Some impressive work for sure. I agree the embossed one looks really good, brings out more for this particular project.

[Colter]

Absolutely Beautiful! Looks so Realistic!

[Windom Leather]

WOW! That is really beautiful. Just outstanding

[dustin29]

Nice work Clay! That is definately some of the nicest work I have ever seen.

[Butch]

Very nice work Clay. Very realistic.

Butch

[David]

Last summer when we passed through Missoula, Mt. we stopped at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation visitor center and I picked up a book there called Rocky Mountain Elk Portfolio, the Photography of Donald M Jones. This book is full of great elk pictures that I thought might be useful for some leather carving patterns. The first picture I wanted to make into a carving is a close up of a bugling elk. My first attempt at this I wanted to do flat and uncolored for a change. All the time I was working on it, the leather was begging me to emboss it, but I resisted the urge and left it flat. Here's the first attempt.

Almost as soon as I was finished with it, I just had to try it again to see how it would look embossed. I liked that one even better.

When I attended Kathy's last class in Rapid City, I took this along to show her what I was working on and she asked if she could use it as part of Columbine's guild display and I agreed, but told her I wanted it painted when I got it back. I was just joking (well, sort of) but I got it back yesterday and it was painted, and I think it's amazing!!! Kathy did a fabulous job with the coloring. Thanks Kathy!!

Beautiful as always Clay

David Theobald

Edited November 9, 2009 by David

[hidepounder]

That's beautiful Clay! When I read that you weren't going to emboss it I couldn't believe my eyes! I looked at the first photo and then I read on....I knew you couldn't resist! It's a great composition too. Kathy did do a great job on it also!

Bobby

[kytim]

I don't want to sound dumb, but what exactly is the difference between carving and embossing?

[Rawhide]

Not a dumb question at all. General tooling/carving gives small relief to the images you intend to display. Embossing expands on this by stretching the leather forward to physically project from the background. Usually the cavity that this produces is filled with a putty or a plug of leather, to aid in strengthening the piece and helps give more definition. I hope this answers your question.

Edited November 10, 2009 by Rawhide

[CarvedOn]

Beautiful work!

[kytim]

Thanks Marlon, but how is that cavity achieved is it done from the back side?

[ClayB]

Thanks everyone for the nice comments on this piece. It would never have turned out that good without Kathy's help.

Kytim, Yes the cavity is created by stretching the leather from the back side. This can be done with several different things but usually the first thing used is a marble. There are embossing tools made specially to work the leather from the backside too, but the back end of a stamping tool or other things can be used as well. I've got a couple tutorials on the main page of the forum that go into quite a bit of detail if you are interested in seeing how it is done.

[PPounder]

Beautiful work Clay! Did you have to use any leather dust putty on the front side of the picture? If so, where?

Thanks,

Chris

[MBOGO]

Incredible, thank you for sharing.

[Crystal]

Amazing as always, Clay! I can't decide which I like best, so if you want a real critique, just mail them out to me and in 20-30 years, I'll let you know what I think.

I can't really tell- but maybe Kathy needs some more painting practice, I've got one or two or a dozen items that need some color. I'd be more than happy to send them to her to practice on.

Great job, both of you!

Crystal

[ClayB]

Thanks again all of you. Crystal, you just need to send some stuff to a show with Kathy. It might take awhile to get it back, but it's worth it!

Chris, there is very little putty on the front side of this one. There is a little under one antler to get it to stand out a little, and then there is some inside the mouth, but none on the face or the body.

[PPounder]

Chris, there is very little putty on the front side of this one. There is a little under one antler to get it to stand out a little, and then there is some inside the mouth, but none on the face or the body.

Hey Clay,

I found some of your tooling tutorials on the main page, more great work, but what tutorials show the embossing?

Thanks again,

Chris

[ClayB]

Hi Chris,

Both the bear paw tutorial and the buffalo feathers tutorial show some embossing techniques. If you have any questions that aren't answered in them, just let me know and I'll do my best to try and answer them. That chipmunk you showed in another post looks like it might be a fun project for embossing. You did a great job with the coloring on that.