First Attempt At Carving-Please Critique

[Jeep1967]

This is my first attempt at carving. I didn't practice first, just dove in. The original pattern was a bit off because I was just tracing regular paper on cased leather and the paper tended to tear. I'll get some tracing film for future projects. By the end of this project I was beginning to get a feel for walking the tools. I only used a swivel knife, lined beveler, smooth pear shader, and a modeling spoon. I can still see some of my original cut lines and I'm not sure if I just cut too deeply or just didn't bevel deep enough.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

[ramblinrovers]

Wow. Thats the best first attempt I've ever seen! Thats REALLY good. (Mine were way worse) Keep it up and you'll be a pro in no time (which will be way ahead of me) I'm not much of an authority in leatherwork because I'm not near being a pro but I've seen a lot of the professional's stuff online

[Troy Burch]

Your leather looks too wet. Let the next piece dry a little more, you should see a burnishing effect and that is probly why you can still see some knife cuts. Good start Troy

[Thor]

I agree with Troy doesn't look like the casing process was completed. You're definitely on the right track.

[Jeep1967]

Thanks for the feedback.

I actually dyed it with saddle tan dye because I really wanted to see what it looked like when dyed. You can see the natural color on the right edge of the middle picture.

I see what you mean about the burnishing effect. It is not as pronounced as it should be. I did a test after this piece where I cased a piece of leather and then stamped a few impressions every 15 minutes. It actually took about 5 hours of drying (well past lightening up to the original color) before I started seeing nice, dark burnishing effect. On my next try, I'll case a piece larger than my pattern and test stamp in the excess area to see when it is ready.

I'd appreciate any other tips or suggestions on what and how I can do better.

[Troy Burch]

Show the next piece before you dye it, it will give a better visual for us to critique.

[Jeep1967]

Show the next piece before you dye it, it will give a better visual for us to critique.

Thanks! I'll be sure to do that next time.

Brad

[ramblinrovers]

There see someone has to point out what's wrong before is I see it

[electrathon]

Instead of using tracing paper use regular paper just as you did, but also use a piece of plastic wrap between the leather and the paper.

Also your leather was too wet.

[Jeep1967]

Instead of using tracing paper use regular paper just as you did, but also use a piece of plastic wrap between the leather and the paper.

Thanks for the tips. I may give it another try today using the plastic wrap and testing the leather to see when it is leaving darker impressions. I'll post the results here, if I do. And I won't dye it this time.

Thanks, again.

Brad