Sheridan Style Inspired Pattern

[Spinner]

While I appreciate and can view with awe some of the pieces folks put out in the traditional Sheridan Style with flowers, vines, leaves, etc. I have to admit flowers don't do it for me and I find myself bored to tears when trying to tool them. Many an artist and instructor has told me if the work doesnlt appeal to you somewhere inside your heart or mind, you'll have a hard time creating an emotional response from viewers of your work. So today while on a trip, away from my tools (most of them anyway, I did smuggle a swivel knife and some scrap to play with) I started doodling the attached sketch. I think with some work it could easily turn into a drawing large enough to fit onto similarly tooled items but provide non-flower folks a way to emulate sheridan style patterns...thoughts, comments, other examples?

Chris

[ClayB]

That is a really interesting start. Wings and things instead of leaves and scrolls? I think it would even look pretty neat just incorporated into a floral design. I'll be watching to see where you go with it.

[Spinner]

Thanks Clay. I had to pause to get ready for a wedding we're heading out for soon but I'm definitely going to play with it some more. As you mentioned, wings, banners, kanji, pearls, koi fish, etc. Could all be incorporated to create a larger more complex design. The nice thing with dragons is they can be long or short so I can carry one from the main circle to a second circle to move the pattern across space. My thought is to make this into a panel that can be used on a tank bib eventually for my wife's bike to see if the idea works on leather.

[dirtclod]

I really like it Spinner !! That is going to be one nice bib.

[Jimbob]

my man Chris.....I love the traditional style.....but in me heart it is all flames skulls and dragons.....and every now and then an alien or two!!

So keep it going and show us the endproduct.....I am sure it will be extra cool.....

I think, ur thinking is on the right track.....thinking out of the box is this called.....I think,,....nice!!

Aloha

James

[CarvedOn]

Really nice balance beginning. More please!

[JohnBarton]

While I appreciate and can view with awe some of the pieces folks put out in the traditional Sheridan Style with flowers, vines, leaves, etc. I have to admit flowers don't do it for me and I find myself bored to tears when trying to tool them. Many an artist and instructor has told me if the work doesnlt appeal to you somewhere inside your heart or mind, you'll have a hard time creating an emotional response from viewers of your work. So today while on a trip, away from my tools (most of them anyway, I did smuggle a swivel knife and some scrap to play with) I started doodling the attached sketch. I think with some work it could easily turn into a drawing large enough to fit onto similarly tooled items but provide non-flower folks a way to emulate sheridan style patterns...thoughts, comments, other examples?

Chris

To me the takeaway from Sheridan is the circles that flow into each other and the viewing angle of the subjects. So really anything you can do with interlocking shapes and an approximately 45 degree angle can be "sheridan" style in inspiration. I am pretty bored with flowers myself but like you I appreciate the "Sheridan" form. Looking forward to seeing this develop.

[Spinner]

Thanks folks, glad to see that there is some interest in the subject. I plan to come back to this a bit more later in the week when I have some more time to just play and doodle. I also plan to examine the finer points of Sheridan flower carvings to try and better extrapolate things like John mentioned, the angles, overlaps and such. I'll update when I have more.

Chris

[JustKate]

I LIKE that! Why didn't I ever think of it? It just opens up a ton of new possibilities with the basic form. Hope you don't mind if I play around with that idea some more and see what I can spin off from it.

Kate

Edited April 26, 2011 by JustKate

[Spinner]

I LIKE that! Why didn't I ever think of it? It just opens up a ton of new possibilities with the basic form. Hope you don't mind if I play around with that idea some more and see what I can spin off from it.

Kate

Thanks Kate, be my guest. The main idea was just an exercise to get the great minds thinking and see if I couldn't start a pattern thread of flower alternate designs for folks to use or inspire their own drawings. I literally did this with a pencil, paper and a coffee cup while hanging out on the hotel patio, smoking a cigar and killing time before the wedding. Twas a good afternoon.

[kid terico]

Spinner I do a lot of floral and wild life carveing. I dont do anything like that but if its carving you got me hooked. I cant wait to see it when you carve it on something. It should be a GREAT piece. KT

Edited April 26, 2011 by kid terico

[cowdog128]

thats really thinking outside the box im a cowboy and a huge fan of western and sheridan carving but your sketch is really eye catching to be honest i would have never thought of it lol you have come up with an idea that appeals to a whole new group of people not just cowhands i cant wait to see it finished or even better on leather i know for a fact that with the new on the edge extreme bullriders and rodeo folk out there im sure youj turn a few heads and get some business. Anyways i have rambled on too long im looking foward to see how it turns out. Happy trails

[StraightTimeStirrups]

Where is a photo of the finished product?

[hidepounder]

Chris,

I think you have the makings for a great pattern! It has a lot of possibilities, but I really don't see anything "Sheridan" about it. To me it represents tat art which I think converts very nicely into tooling patterns. I think you should run with it! Can't wait to see the finished pattern!

Bobby

Edited October 4, 2011 by hidepounder

[Spinner]

Where is a photo of the finished product?

Hey STS - Funny you should bring this thread back to life yesterday, as I just found the drawing last night when I was unpacking a box in the new shop. Hopefully I can get back to it soon.

Chris,

I think you have the makings for a great pattern! It has a lot of possibilities, but I really don't see anything "Sheridan" about it. To me it represents tat art which I think converts very nicely into tooling patterns. I think you should run with it! Can't wait to see the finished pattern!

Bobby

Hey Bobby,

It's definitely not Sheridan by and of itself, which is why I called it "....inspired". I kept (and still do) looking at Sheridan style & Graver Scrollwork patterns, trying to find something besides flowers and scrolls that would fit the same curving, looping, overlapping flow of Sheridan...I plan on adding other elements as I go along so that it's not just a big dragon orgy, things like water, bonsai branches, koi, etc. are a couple of things I thought of last night. The interesting thing will be tooling it...to do it correctly, I can already see the need for not only my usual figure carving tools but bringing in some of the floral tools like petal lifters as well.

Now if I can just get my workload back under control, I'll get back to this finally and see if I can't get it onto leather one day!

Chris

Edited October 4, 2011 by Spinner