I Seriously Need Help With This Background

[DoubleC]

Cheryl, do you know what pointillism is? If so, and you have a backgrounder, stamp in the outlines of a hill in the distance with maybe a tree in the foreground. Use heavier blows from the mallet to set these impressions a bit deeper and likewise with any details like clouds or tree branches. Then fill the areas between - sky has no tooling except for clouds. Meadow has some tooled in tufts of grass. You can do what I call "friction burnishing" by rubbing the face of the leather with a tight weave cloth and a good bit of pressure. You're giving the leather a friction burn, and it will keep the slightly darker color. Use that method to shade the area of the meadow. Use the beveler like a pencil and just drag in some lines suggesting taller grass.

The key to doing this in leather is to think in terms of negative space. All the elements of the composition are at the same level...you need to push everything BUT those elements 'back' to make them stand out. You can push the open space back through tooling, color, shading, etc. OR You can pull the elements you want 'forward' by stretching the leather (from the back) to make the elements stand above the surface of the leather- this is done by embossing, the use of lifters, and undercuts.

Ok Mike I think I understand what you mean except when you say put the tree in the foreground, do you mean the foreground of the hill or the horse? I hate to sound dumb but I want to make sure I do it right. I can draw all of those things I don't need a background tool, well unless you mean like my camo. Well the only tree I can really draw, or I guess I've ever tried to was a pine. I'll use my stylus to draw those things, actually have some of pics on here of the Vermont mountains. well can look out my window and see them. Wait that won't work because would be using the mallet on it. Mike my tools consist of the 6 you get in a package from Tandy, a 3D mare and foal, a horseshoe (because that's how I sign my initials) a basket weave, oh and lets not forget the rose. That particular one is a favorite of Kevin's :-) Actually everything you mentioned could be done with my camo and beveler. Even Thrash's clouds if I tipped it. And I have denim to burnish with. But it this going to make it a little busy on an approximately 7 & 1/2" x 7 & 1/2" inch piece of leather?

[DoubleC]

Well you already know that you can't expect great results without all the required tools.

You might be able to dampen the leather and smooth those areas out with a modeling spoon.

Just keep carving the head area, it has the most detail and will use less leather until you are happy with the results.

You might carve a half dozen before you are satisfied.

Practice on drawing straight lines and curves then bevel those on scrap leather.

http://leatherworker...=0

Thanks Kevin, I have plenty of scraps now. Someone told me to contact yaklady but I can't find her in the member list anymore. What a talent, I wish she was still here.

[TwinOaks]

I meant that the tree should be between the horse and the hill.....visually. And I was mentioning using a backgrounder to create a pointillist type image where you have the image, but you've actually drawn no lines.

I'll whip up something here in a few minutes, and post it...but it'll take a few minutes because after making it, I've got to take the picture and then get my wife's computer to get the image - because I can't find my cheap little camera that I just transfer the memory chip from the camera to my computer.

BRB.....

[DoubleC]

I meant that the tree should be between the horse and the hill.....visually. And I was mentioning using a backgrounder to create a pointillist type image where you have the image, but you've actually drawn no lines.

I'll whip up something here in a few minutes, and post it...but it'll take a few minutes because after making it, I've got to take the picture and then get my wife's computer to get the image - because I can't find my cheap little camera that I just transfer the memory chip from the camera to my computer.

BRB.....

ok Mike. I am pretty much finished with except for burnishing so I hope this is kinda what you had in mind.

[TwinOaks]

One thing to keep in mind....you are LEARNING. If you choose to not do this with the current piece, just tuck the info away for use on another project.

Here's an example of a 2 tool background. The C834 is used (though you can do the same thing with a camo tool) with many light, overlapping strikes to give a 'choppy' appearance for the 'meadow' in the center of the piece. Full strikes are used in the tree to suggest some foliage, and in the foreground for 'clumps' of grass. There's also one or two places where I drug the tool to suggest some longer reeds. The A104 (small backgrounder) is used for the mountains in the way-back background and for the trunk/branches of the tree. Nothing is actually drawn with 'hard' lines. Instead the piece uses shading/backgrounding and especially varying depth of the tooling, to make the image. If you don't have a backgrounding tool, you can make one out of a stick/dowel. Just take it outside and 'stamp' it on a sidewalk. The concrete is a rough enough texture to give you some pattern and is hard enough to imprint the softer wood, making a negative image of the concrete on the end of the wood. Anyway, here's the pic:

P.S. I antiqued it to give it a little more definition for the picture.

[DoubleC]

One thing to keep in mind....you are LEARNING. If you choose to not do this with the current piece, just tuck the info away for use on another project.

Here's an example of a 2 tool background. The C834 is used (though you can do the same thing with a camo tool) with many light, overlapping strikes to give a 'choppy' appearance for the 'meadow' in the center of the piece. Full strikes are used in the tree to suggest some foliage, and in the foreground for 'clumps' of grass. There's also one or two places where I drug the tool to suggest some longer reeds. The A104 (small backgrounder) is used for the mountains in the way-back background and for the trunk/branches of the tree. Nothing is actually drawn with 'hard' lines. Instead the piece uses shading/backgrounding and especially varying depth of the tooling, to make the image. If you don't have a backgrounding tool, you can make one out of a stick/dowel. Just take it outside and 'stamp' it on a sidewalk. The concrete is a rough enough texture to give you some pattern and is hard enough to imprint the softer wood, making a negative image of the concrete on the end of the wood. Anyway, here's the pic:

P.S. I antiqued it to give it a little more definition for the picture.

Well I didn't put any finish on mine yet, was waiting to see what you did. I did what I thought you meant, but I didn't get a tree into it. So I did try and this is the top if my first molded box that's finally about dry, and I wasn't expecting either to be perfect. Actually Sienna's picture came out so good compared to what I thought it would, I had to keep it. Anyway this is how I did the mountain, clouds and grass. Not nearly as realistic as yours Mike, but still it made me think so The next one will be better. I love your idea of making a background tool so I'm definitely going to do that. I just got leather and a swivel knife last Saturday so I feel like I'm very rich. I'm going to save your picture and the tools you used in my folder for the next time around. Thanks for all your help. Cheryl

[UKRay]

Cheryl,

I get some good effects with a pebble type backgrounder. The joy is that this is such a 'forgiving' way to cover mistakes and I make quite a few!

Okay, you won't get a picture, as such, but you can use the pebble background to highlight a large subject very easily.

Hope this helps, if not then I guess you didn't pay much for my thoughts! lol

Ray

[DoubleC]

Cheryl,

I get some good effects with a pebble type backgrounder. The joy is that this is such a 'forgiving' way to cover mistakes and I make quite a few!

Okay, you won't get a picture, as such, but you can use the pebble background to highlight a large subject very easily.

Hope this helps, if not then I guess you didn't pay much for my thoughts! lol

Ray

Ray I can tell you I pay attention to everything people say, honestly. It gets tucked away in my head then I have to look for 2 hours to find it, but I do listen. I've seen your work so it would be silly of me to ignore what you say. But I'm afraid I don't pay well :-( Would a penny for your thoughts work? LOL. Cheryl

[UKRay]

You are far too generous, Cheryl!

E294 series Craftools work well for me but there are plenty of others that can help to cover choppy bevelling, etc etc - believe me, I use all kind of tricks to rescue potential disasters. All's fair in love and leatherworking... LOL

Ray

[DoubleC]

You are far too generous, Cheryl!

E294 series Craftools work well for me but there are plenty of others that can help to cover choppy bevelling, etc etc - believe me, I use all kind of tricks to rescue potential disasters. All's fair in love and leatherworking... LOL

Ray

I am a firm believer in THAT Ray, LOL