Carving Horses

[techniques]

it seems as if I have troubles, with editing my posts. Here comes a scan of my horse head carving.

I hope I'm now able to post the other photos.

I'm sorry it didn't work. I will try again tomorrow.

Gisela

[techniques]

Luckily now uploading has worked. Here are some photos from the horsehead carving.

Greetings

Gisela

[yaklady]

Gisela, you're doing a wonderful job! You have all the right shading in all the right places. If you could smooth the shading out a little more so that none of the lines show, the muscles would be perfect. I can't get the right look with just any modeling spoon, I have to use Peter Main's spoon. Any other spoon I've used isn't smooth enough to make a smooth impression. The pointed beveller you have is larger than it should be. I will take pictures of the ones I use so you can see the difference. A smaller one will help you a lot. On the mane and forelock, try using a fine point stylus to break up the hair blade impressions to make it look more real. I'll take close-ups of that, too.

It does look like you got close to breaking through with the pro petal. How heavy is your leather? The heavier it is, the deeper you can go with that.

I'm certainly not disappointed! In fact, I'm impressed at how well you're doing. You'll have it down in no time.

Kathy

[yaklady]

I got side tracked for a bit. Jim Linnell is in town, so I had to go bother him for a while. I love him to death, he's my hero and my mentor when it comes to leather craft. He's the reason I have come to enjoy teaching like I do. I wish he would come more often.

Anyway, I took some close-ups of how I do the mane.

This shows the different tools. F902 Is a good one to use. F941 is the one you used. It's realy too broad, but if you tip it way up on the point, it can be done. F910 can be ground down to make a tool similar to F902, but with a hair simulation, which is good in some applications, but not necessary here.

This shows the different tools used on the ends of the hair.

Cut a few hairs with the swivel knife.

Simulate hairs with a hair blade.

Create depth with a modeling spoon.

Break up the hairs with a stylus.

Of course, bevel around the hair.

With the muscles, one thing most people seem to miss is smoothing them out. Tense up the muscles in your arm or leg and take a close look. If you're a body builder, it might be different, but most of the time, there is a gradual transition from low to high. Avoid having a "ditch" where the muscles are. (Pardon my country hick language) Make a ditch at first, then smooth them to both sides, rounding them to make them look like your own muscles.

I'm having a lot of fun doing this! I just hope it makes sense to you.

Kathy

[joet]

I'm having a lot of fun doing this! I just hope it makes sense to you.

Kathy

Kathy, you make it so clear that even I could do it. Wish you would do a lesson on the human face.

[yaklady]

Kathy, you make it so clear that even I could do it. Wish you would do a lesson on the human face.

Of course you could do it, Joe! If you want a real lesson on a human face, I could do that at Tandy's in Colorado Springs. If you want one on here, I could do that, too!

Kathy

[joet]

Of course you could do it, Joe! If you want a real lesson on a human face, I could do that at Tandy's in Colorado Springs. If you want one on here, I could do that, too!

Kathy

That sounds like a winner. I know you are setting up at least three classes there for this year, maybe you could either add a fourth class and make that faces, or change one of the other classes that are scheduled. Then again, maybe a lesson here on line could be in order, but it might be better if the class was in person.

[techniques]

It does look like you got close to breaking through with the pro petal. How heavy is your leather? The heavier it is, the deeper you can go with that.

I'm certainly not disappointed! In fact, I'm impressed at how well you're doing. You'll have it down in no time.

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

thank you very much for your critique. I have taken the heaviest leather which I have and it is 3,8 mm thick that is between 9 and 10 oz. Maybe I have not cut deep enough into the leather? I have always problems to cut deep into the leather. Maybe this is the reason? However I will try the use of the Pro Petal tool and will make some horse noses on scrap leather.

Gisela

Edited February 19, 2010 by techniques

[techniques]

Hi Kathy,

thank you very much for the tutorial for the horse forehead. I hope the next horse carving will become now better.

Sometimes I’m a very stupid woman. I own Peter Main’s Modelling Tool and haven’t used them. I have put all my tools at the closet as I stopped leather work and have taken only a few out from the closet as I stared again with carving. Now I have looked through my collection and brought them all back into my room where I do leather carving. I have also a modified F910 and also 2 stamps from Bob Beard which look like modified F910. One is small and the other is a little bit larger. Am I not crazy? Having some very good tools and didn’t use them? I can’t understand myself!!

This weekend I will look through my stamp collection and will choose the ones which I will use more often. I will put them directly against my working table.

I have also looked through my Doodle Page collection and found a Palomino Horse Carving from you. Yesterday I have started with carving them and I hope it will become ready this weekend so that I can show it here at the forum.

Thank you again very much for your help.

Gisela

[techniques]

I got side tracked for a bit. Jim Linnell is in town, so I had to go bother him for a while. I love him to death, he's my hero and my mentor when it comes to leather craft. He's the reason I have come to enjoy teaching like I do. I wish he would come more often.

Kathy

Hello Kathy,

Oh, I envy you for the change to met Jim Linnell. I love his work also very much and looking very often at his web site. Enjoy the time.

Greetings

Gisela