May 2012 Challenge

[Cyberthrasher]

I used a stylus, swivel knife, beveler, and pear shader (I STILL don't have any background tools) The cracks in the dragon will be done with the stylus from looking at the picture.

How big is the dragon? It would probably be better to hit it with the swivel knife using a light touch instead of the stylus. That way the marks will be a little more forgiving to the constant wear and tear of a butt sliding around on them

[DoubleC]

How did you KNOW I had a big butt? LOL. The dragon is 6 inches across and 4 & 1/2 down. All the space I didn't tool anything (on the dragon) needs the cracks in it, then the cracks need to be various colors of orange and white while the background needs to be various shades of dark purple. The 'rocks' or lava or whatever is black with orange reflecting off the tops or sides, whatever is closest to the dragon. It's going to take a while to finish, LOL. And if I get 1/2 that color right I'll consider myself much improved. I could use my swivel knife too, either will work. I was just thinking the rounded depression made by the stylus would give me something easier to paint orange, a little wider depression. I'm actually not sure how forgiving all the painting will be to a butt sliding around on it. Maybe I should do a light dye over all of it first, saddle tan maybe in case the paint wears. And put 42 coats of leather sheen on it

[DoubleC]

Oh for god's sake, I cut the da*m leather wrong, a three legged stool doesn't have 4 freaking corners, it has three. I'm going to lose part of the dragon when I cut it right. I give up, I really do.

[Cyberthrasher]

You'll be fine. Think of a triangle with curved sides, kind of like the celtic Trinity symbol or something. That will save your work and give you the right shape too.

As for the swivel knife vs. stylus - I would still cut it and if you want to open up the lines a little with the stylus or even running the beveler over it by hand (just slide it along like the knife), that would open everything up to take color easier and still make the tooling last longer. I find myself using my speed beveler like this all the time on decorative cuts to double bevel them lightly and open them up a little bit. That's what I did on the belly/neck of my dragon.

Edited May 15, 2012 by Cyberthrasher

[DoubleC]

Well since I went to so much trouble to center this, I am going to lose part of the dragon no matter which way I go. So I'm getting ready to make a 1/2" frame for it with 4 short legs, lace it all the way around with rawhide instead of stapling it, or tacking it, whatever, and use it for my laptop in my lap, my lap desk in my lap or my dinner plate while I'm watching tv. Make it like a square breakfast tray. That way I can enjoy it all the time, and not lose the work I put into it. I'm just glad I didn't start tooling or carving the second camp stool.

Well I just put the piece of leather on my lap and that ain't gonna work either. I'd have to angle the llegs a lot because I sit cross legged and so my lap is wider than 12 inches. I think I'm gonna make it a frisbee for the dog, grrrrrr.

[DoubleC]

I am gonna use my swivel knife though like you suggested. This is the picture I'm trying to reproduce

[DoubleC]

OK Allen, I got a grip on my feelings, LOL and every dot and mark on the dragon so far was done with a swivel knife, then I went over every one with my stylus. Is this what you meant? (My arm and hand is pretty tired, LOL)

[Sylvia]

Sylvia, yours make me ashamed to put up what I have so far.

Hey! That is really good CC! Now go form it into a tray for your TV remote, keys, and trinkets, since you think it will be too small for your stool and laptop tray.

[DoubleC]

Thank you Sylvia, but it's not good. It's not bad considering I don't practice like I should with making products but I know good swivel knife use and beveling when I see it, and this ain't it. But I'm going to round it and still use it for a stool, even if I lose some of the dragon and my but will wipe out those overcuts and swivel marks eventually, LOL

[Cyberthrasher]

The idea's there and that's the important part. I'm promising myself I'm going to get to work on my friend's wallet tonight (sorry, shovelheads took priority last night), so I'll grab a piece of scrap while I'm at it and do a side by side showing the technique.