Dog Art

[Tree Reaper]

Tried my hand at carving my lab on leather.

[SheWolfSilver]

Oh, wow! I love that! I actually have thought about trying something like that myself !

[Tree Reaper]

Thanks, not very difficult to do.

I had a picture of him that I traced,

carved, blocked out the body area except the nose because he's a yellow lab, gel saddle tan for the finish and the eyes were done with gel mahogany painted on.

Finished with clear coat.

With the two together I can see where I can improve on the next carving.

The mouth on the left extends too far and should drop straight down and I need to darken the area under the nose a little, always room for improvement.

Oh, wow! I love that! I actually have thought about trying something like that myself !

Edited January 9, 2012 by Tree Reaper

[Nefarious]

Nice work!

[BenB]

Adorable - I think you captured the dog's likeness and expression very well. Looks like the right jowl needs droop downward a little further, though.

[Tree Reaper]

Thanks for the comments.

Adorable - I think you captured the dog's likeness and expression very well. Looks like the right jowl needs droop downward a little further, though.

Right on Ben, I see that now that you mention it.

It comes straight down where I rounded it off at the bottom a little too much too soon.

Good eye!

I know what happened, the picture didn't trace perfectly because I couldn't make out the lines in some places, I can darken those up with a pen the next time so I don't miss them.

I'll make a note of that for the next one.

Kevin.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Tree Reaper

[groovytech]

Cujos!! great job! I'm never truly satisfied with my carvings, however, I learn from each one. Nice Dog.

[Tree Reaper]

Thanks, each time I look at it I see something that can be corrected, the chin area for example is in too much of an A shape and should be squared off a little, something else that didn't show through the tracing film.

Cujos!! great job! I'm never truly satisfied with my carvings, however, I learn from each one. Nice Dog.

[LNLeather]

I like your carving, and it looks like you've got a great dog there too!

[Tree Reaper]

Thanks Cheryl;

He's a good guy and good company.

[electrathon]

I read the title line and thought that you were going to have a picture where your dog walked on your leather and you were convinced your dog was an artist.

[Tree Reaper]

He's a con artist when it comes to treats.

I read the title line and thought that you were going to have a picture where your dog walked on your leather and you were convinced your dog was an artist.

[Tree Reaper]

Well I hammered out another one and I think I have the mouth right but I'll let you all decide if other changes should be made.

Thanks for looking.

Kevin.

[LNLeather]

Hey, wow, that's even better!

I am not very good at it, but probably the next thing is to learn is how to make fur...

Great job though... I would use those coasters every day!

Oh, and I could tell Jes is a Good Dog, by the way he's lookin at you with those big brown eyes.

That is a great breed of dog - loyal, affectionate & great with kids.

Edited January 13, 2012 by LNLeather

[Tree Reaper]

Thanks Cheryl;

There's something with the nose that seems to be missing, almost too flat like a pigs nose.

I don't know how to improve that and get it raised, maybe open up the nostrils and bevel the edges inside the nostrils but there isn't much room to work.

Kevin

[LNLeather]

Hey, you are right. I had to copy your pic and then zoom in to see it better.

I had a thought and did a Google Image search for dog nose close up

It is amazing to look at the close ups......

Why don't you try that and you will see that the nose has a different shape than just 2 holes.

and a slight crease up the middle. This is interesting!

and maybe a modeler will help to round the edges?

[Tree Reaper]

The nostrils have that slit from the hole down on an angle and I think that's what is missing.

If I put those in it will reduce the nose area making it less flat, I can also model or bevel the inside of the hole.

I think I'll work on a few noses without the dog to see if I can work it out.

Thanks for the idea.

Edited January 13, 2012 by Tree Reaper

[Tree Reaper]

I may be close to having what I want after reworking the nose.

[DoubleC]

Thanks Cheryl;

There's something with the nose that seems to be missing, almost too flat like a pigs nose.

I don't know how to improve that and get it raised, maybe open up the nostrils and bevel the edges inside the nostrils but there isn't much room to work.

Kevin

Kevin, I noticed the nose right off, which I didn't on your first one so I went back and looked at it. But I swear I can't figure out why they're different. I just carved my horse's eye looking at a picture I took, on my laptop while I did it. It was my second attempt and I thought it looked pretty good, but I couldn't get a good picture of it for the life of me, to put on here. So I hooked up my scanner to this computer and took another one to post, and let me tell you, it shows every hair out of place. Things I could see with my poor old eyes. Like the eyelashes...I'd painted over them 3 times because I didn't really pre-plan, just painted. When I did them the 4th time I scratched down into the raw leather and didn't get them covered up again. I'm not upset, but like you I know it's not right yet. I think animals are hard but when you get them right, it's so cool.

I am not up to even trying my dog yet, has all this wild spaniel hair, etc. Has 4 different colors on her face, and some that are kinda blended, LOL. Anyway, I'm going to try and make a template of the eye, run the pic off etc. but it was fun doing it free hand.

Anyway, both of yours are beautiful, just different and I can't tell why on the nose. Sorry I could be more help. Cheryl

Edited January 14, 2012 by DoubleC

[DoubleC]

I may be close to having what I want after reworking the nose.

Well I didn't even SEE the third one, shouldn't come here this early. Great job. Cheryl

[LNLeather]

I may be close to having what I want after reworking the nose.

I missed this 3rd one yesterday too. Wow, It is fun to see how you have progressed with this.

You might think you were concentrating on the nose, which is much better, but I think you have got everything better...

You almost have a set!

I have looked at your dog so much, I feel like I know him... heheheheh

Good work TR

Edited January 14, 2012 by LNLeather

[Tree Reaper]

That's the last nose job for this guy, he's been promoted from test piece to fridge magnet.