August challenge

[Howling Wolf Leather]

I wasn't aware of the name either. I thought that they were just decorative cuts.

Is it cheating to trace the patterns first- does it all HAVE to be done freehand? (Not for the contest but traditionally?)

pete

I watched Al on a video from the Last trade show in Ventura and he drew in his main lines and free handed the rest.

I drew my main scroll lines and transfered them to the leather just to make sure they were as balanced as possible. All other cuts were free hand.

WC

[Crystal]

I don't think this is exactly what the challenge is - but it's what I came up with. 1/4" hollowground swivel knife blade, a few touchups with a modeling spoon and since I tried and had a snowball's chance of ever getting circles down - I used a Pro Petal to do them. What is traditionaly used to finish scroll work? I'd like to try something that is suggested and get better pictures in the daylight. Sorry about the bad pictures.

Crystal

[Clay]

Crystal

OMy!!!! That is beautiful!! How in the world did you come up with that? WOW!! I wouldn't call that

finger cuts, I would call that fine scroll work!!

ClayM.

[Clay]

When I have a finger cut, it looks like this.

[freak]

Sorry about the bad pictures.

Crystal

My monitor must be going out cause i don't see any "bad" pics. All i see is some amazing work. Crystal , that is a beautiful work of art. I love it !!

[ClayB]

That is so cool Crystal!!! That's what I had hoped for when I brought up the first one of these earlier this year. People being encouraged to try new things and put thier own style into it. You have certainly done that.

It seems you dont see a lot of pieces with finger cuts on them, so this has been an interesting topic. I hope more people give this challenge a try. Neat idea Bert.

[Crystal]

Thanks so much, guys.

I didn't draw this - it is from a book on ironwork I picked up to help me with leaves and scrolls. One of those designs that looked cool to try to tool but was too detailed for any of my tools (or me). The August challenge just made me look at it a bit differenty. I have not liked knife work since I started leather work because I find it very difficult. This is the first time I used that 1/4" blade and I think it made a big difference.

Freak - I have to fuss with the photos in a photo program to try to get them easier to see. The color always seems way off. I must learn to take pictures and make a light box.

Thanks for the comments. I needed to pull this one off after throwing out attempts #1,#2,#3, and #4 on the July challenge.

Keep 'em coming, Clay!

Crystal

[Colman]

Crystal,

WOW!

That is a great example of delicate knifework and using cuts to create shading and detail.

Is the 1/4" blade now your blade of choice?

What is the name of the book?

Johnny

[Crystal]

Crystal,

WOW!

That is a great example of delicate knifework and using cuts to create shading and detail.

Is the 1/4" blade now your blade of choice?

What is the name of the book?

Johnny

Thanks, Johnny. I think I had a little better control with the smaller blade and the flat 1/4" isn't as sharp as the 1/4" angle. I haven't tried it on anything else, yet. The book is Treasury of Ironwork Design, I found it on Amazon.

Crystal

[howardb]

WC - awesome! ONe day? I'd have spent a week...

Crystal - gorgeous!

I must do something...