Finger Carving

[Spinner]

I have seen a couple of times the awesome finger carvings of Bob (hidepounder) and others, specifically of birds and floral designs. In telling a newer leatherworker about them she became intrigued and asked where she could get practice patterns. Unfortunately I haven't had call for them yet so I haven't drawn any up (and quite frankly not sure how good they would be) and so I wonder, does anyone know of a source book for patterns or on designing your own?

I'm pretty adept with pen & paper but I didn't know much about the theory behind them to get started.

Thanks,

Chris

[Hilly]

I have seen a couple of times the awesome finger carvings of Bob (hidepounder) and others, specifically of birds and floral designs. In telling a newer leatherworker about them she became intrigued and asked where she could get practice patterns. Unfortunately I haven't had call for them yet so I haven't drawn any up (and quite frankly not sure how good they would be) and so I wonder, does anyone know of a source book for patterns or on designing your own?

I'm pretty adept with pen & paper but I didn't know much about the theory behind them to get started.

Thanks,

Chris

The Leather Crafter and Saddlers Journal has a monthly article called "swivel knife finesse", which is often some sort of finger carving. You might look at a bunch of back issues...

[Spinner]

Thanks Hilly, I hadn't seen any in the few issues I have so I may have to track down a better collection.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Most of my finger carvings don't use a pattern. They are the standard straight slash , and normally centerd on the fingertip.

[stelhrse]

Most of my finger carvings don't use a pattern. They are the standard straight slash , and normally centerd on the fingertip.

Good Morning. Please forgive my ignorance here as I am very new to leather crafting but I thought all carving methods were the same. What is the diffenence between "normal" carving and finger carving? Thanks.

[Spinner]

Good Morning. Please forgive my ignorance here as I am very new to leather crafting but I thought all carving methods were the same. What is the diffenence between "normal" carving and finger carving? Thanks.

Finger carving is simply creating line drawings on the leather with no tooling, just the cuts. Here is a great, recent example of finger carving that BearMan did on a journal shown in this topic post: http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=27297&st=0&p=171948entry171948

[dirtclod]

Finger carving in the leather world is like pen striping in the custom paint world. That finishing touch to great piece of work. Or it it's way to me anyway.

[stelhrse]

Finger carving in the leather world is like pen striping in the custom paint world. That finishing touch to great piece of work. Or it it's way to me anyway.

I see. Makes sense how you all explained it. Thanks.

[rustyriggin]

Thanks Hilly, I hadn't seen any in the few issues I have so I may have to track down a better collection.

The patterns are usually just a page or 2 from the back.

[BearMan]

Hi Spinner, While I appreciate your comments about my attempts at finger carving,,, I feel we should show what a true Finger Carving Master can do. Here are a few pictures of just a few things that Bob Park (hidepounder) has done. Bob is a true inspiration to us all. Ed the "BearMan"