Sheridan style Carving

[bobocat]

Hello Everyone,

This Sheridan style Carving is used at wallet for certificate.

now I didn't dye the caving. now just add the dye of Burnt dark brown on it.

[TomSwede]

That looks sooo smooth and as usual the carving is top notch!!

Tom

[ArtS]

Beautifully done!

Art

[JustWakinUp]

WOW ! I agree with Tom super smooth and the decoratvie cuts are wonderful

[hidepounder]

Beautifully done Bobocat! Excellent composition and knifework! You've also done an excellent job in shading...in particular you've matched the correct size shader to match the pattern....or designed your pattern to match your tools...either way, an important fundamental not recognized by many toolers. I'm impressed with this piece, as I am with all your work! I would categorize the style as "Traditional Western" or probably more accurately "Stohlman", rather than "Sheridan". Nevertheless, it's beautiful! Really well done!

[Alan Bell]

I am curious Hidepounder, what design elements do you feel exclude this piece from being Sheridan and would make it Traditional Western and what elements take it from Traditional Western to Stohlman. I am having trouble finding my own niche. I prefer/like what I see as Sheridan as opposed to what I see as Stohlman but I would have thought this piece was a Sheridan piece mostly because of the thin "bouquets" and the size of the leaves. As I understand things Don King used finer "bouquets" than was Traditional in creating Sheridan and hence the need for sharper angled bevelers and finer shaders.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

[electrathon]

I am ill equiped to get into a debate in this but I will throw in my opinion.

When I opened the post the first time and saw the carving the first thing I thought was: One, extremely nice work. Two, that is Western Floral, not Sheridan.

The vines are too big to be Sheridan. There should be more flowers and less folage. I would have moved the top right flower to the left and added another to the bottom right. Then the folage could have been trimmed back and the flowers would be predominate and not the folage being predominant.

Not an expert, I am interested in the opinions of others too.

[hidepounder]

I am curious Hidepounder, what design elements do you feel exclude this piece from being Sheridan and would make it Traditional Western and what elements take it from Traditional Western to Stohlman. I am having trouble finding my own niche. I prefer/like what I see as Sheridan as opposed to what I see as Stohlman but I would have thought this piece was a Sheridan piece mostly because of the thin "bouquets" and the size of the leaves. As I understand things Don King used finer "bouquets" than was Traditional in creating Sheridan and hence the need for sharper angled bevelers and finer shaders.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

Hi Alan....glad to give you my opinion, but please remember, it's just my opinion and others might disagree....and that's okay!

The two flowers used, especially the lower left are unquestionalby Sheridan! However, if you'll notice, the acanthis is nearly as large as the flowers and the way it used and tooled says Stohlman to me. It and the swirls are nearly as important elements in the compositon as the flowers, where, in Sheridan tooling there is much less emphasis on these elements. In addition you'll notice that the petals on the stem are very short and rounded. In Sheridan tooling, these petals are much more elongated and you will see them used more frequently. The swirls as used here are very large and broad, and again, a major part of the composition as oppossed to just being a complimentary element.

The use of the flower in a circle, as typically seen in Sheridan style tooling, does not make a composition, Sheridan Style. The use of a flower in a circle is very common in Traditional tooling designs. If you have the opportunity to study the book "Sheridan Style Carving" by Bob Likewise, you will see a lot of examples of what I'm trying to convey here. And remember, there is no hard line that separates Sheridan style from what I call Traditonal style. There are several Sheridan elements and techniques used in this piece, primarily the design and tooling of the flowers and the general use of a thumbprint/bruiser in lieu of a shader, as well as the use of a steep beveler.

The popularity of the Sheridan style coupled with the surging interest in western tooling has resulted in the use of the term "Sheridan" to describe all western floral tooling, and that just isn't correct. What I think is unquestionable is that Bobocat is a Master tooler and this little sample he has shown us is simply beautiful! He is easily one of the best toolers I have ever seen and I carefully study everything he does because I always learn something! and "that's all I have to say about that".

Hope this makes sense.....if not....just ignore me!

Bob

[Alan Bell]

Thanks for taking time to explain all that Bob, I do have the Likewise book but not right here in front of me so when I get home I will get it out and look for the elements you are talking about and compare. I gives me a better understanding of Sheridan to understand what Don King was trying to create when he created "Sheridan" from Traditional. It also helps me know what I am doing when I am trying to do some "Sheridan" tooling practice. I know what i want to do but for some reason I can't seem to re create it myself.

Vaya Con Dios, Alan Bell

[Johanna]

Ahem. Alan, we are missing Bob Marley quotes here. I can't believe you ran out! Waaaaahhhh! I want 'em back!

~J