DaveC Report post Posted February 21, 2015 Hi All, I'd appreciate it if anyone would take the time to have a look and help me improve my work with some suggestions. I've been at it as a hobby for since November, reading a lot (Gardner & Fay, Geer, Gorrell, Park) and trying to get the hang of this making dog collars. I can see more things wrong than right but would especially like to know what stands out to the practiced eye that would help me along the most. Cheers, Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGGUNDOCTOR Report post Posted February 21, 2015 Don't know if I would call that Sheridan. It doesn't look that bad. There are some little things like edges that are not clean, but otherwise not a bad effort. I don't think the dog will offer a bad critique of the carving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaveC Report post Posted February 21, 2015 (edited) Lol. Thanks BIGGUNDOCTOR. Note to self: Edges The pattern is one from Chan Geer so no doubt the Sheridan-ness got lost in the execution. And thankfully the dog probably won't mind. Edited February 21, 2015 by DaveC Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarryS Report post Posted August 19, 2015 Not a bad attempt. Here are a few suggestions that I have for you. The carving is to small for the area, the leaves, flowers and vine work should go all the way out to the border and terminate past the border. This will allow you smaller areas to background and it doesn't look like the pattern doesn't fit the area. Your vine work is very thick and abrupt, this stops the flow of your eye. Try pulling some of your cuts longer to take up some of the room. When you make your cuts they should be deeper at the beginning and taper off towards the back as well as your beveling. Continue to practice making your cuts by taking scraps and pulling cuts starting out deeper and tapering it of at the end. Keep practicing and referencing the books you have mentioned. It took me about 2 years of classes with Clint Fay to get proficient with this style but it is attainable you are doing good. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oltoot Report post Posted August 20, 2015 Work on sharpening swivel knife and those cut tapers will be easier, tip thumbprints a little more so impression will 'fade' out. Generally one thing that makes it 'pop' is more clean areas showing from smaller tool impressions. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaveC Report post Posted September 2, 2015 Thanks for your help oltoot. I'll do as you suggest. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaveC Report post Posted September 2, 2015 Thank you for the tips and encouragement BarryS. Your comments make the issues seem very obvious. Hopefully I'll have something better to show next time. Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarryS Report post Posted September 9, 2015 Dave, My projects for the first couple of years were not at all anything like yours here. Keep practicing and the improvement will definately be noticeable. If anybody ever tells you that their work can't emprove they should probably look for another hobby or job. Remember that this is also an art that everybody will look at differently there will be those that do not like something or in the inverse like something. There are general rules in what a certain style of carving presents but these are not hard and fast rules and they can be bent or broken when somebody wants. Do what you like and you think looks the best. Very Respectfully, Barry Shannon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DaveC Report post Posted September 12, 2015 Thanks again Barry. I share you opinion on improvement. I think I enjoy seeing improvement in what I do at least as much as the end result. Now that summer is over, I'm looking forward to spending more time on leather again. The variety in styles and how individuals achieve them is very interesting. There are some that I prefer so I will try to steer toward that look. Best wishes, Dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
