Monthly Figure Carving Challenge

[leatheroo]

freak, that is the best....love the way you think outside the box

[Kayak15]

I'm wondering if you could tell me how the leather was painted. Is this airbrush painting or what? Looks great by the way. I'll not address anyone in particular because I would like to hear of the differnt methods if their are differences. There is some really good work there folks.

Kayak15

[ClayB]

I used a brush and acrylic paints thinned down with water and the technique Silva Fox teaches in her Dazzling Color DVD. You color in all the shadow areas first with shades of purple, then just paint your main color over that. No mixing different shades, the shadows are already there. Then just add some highlights and it's done. I haven't used this technique a lot, but should because it really works and is pretty simple.

Some people use an airbrush on leather and get great results. I need to figure out how to use mine sometime.

I hope some of the rest of the people will explain there methods, coloring can be really frustrating.

[Roger]

beezachoppa

I just have to ask, on the photo it looks like you have the antiquing color I've looked for, what are you using? I seam to have all the wrong colors at home:-(

the antique color is mahogany

[HorsehairBraider]

I just painted mine with a brush and acrylics just like I would paint a canvas - except that I allowed the leather color to show through quite a lot and I would not do that on canvas.

[fleabitpokey]

Well I guess you are right,we have to try different things so we can better ourselves. I need to get more confident about posting my work. This is my first cat. I am open for any help.

Stephanie

[ClayB]

Stephanie,

For your first cat you did a great job! You did a nice job on the ear and the mouth and teeth. The eyes are done nicely too. I think the eyes are tricky to do on this pattern because of the way it is drawn. In Tina's original, there are large wrinkles over the eyes that I think have been hard for people to grasp when carving the pattern. You got all the contours of the neck in the right places, but it looks pretty deep with out hair. I think if you added hair, it would tone down the deep impressions and blend everything together nicely. I am glad you decided to carve this pattern and that you shared the picture. I have been impressed with how all of the cats have been turning out, especially for those of you that are new to figure carving.

[Clay]

ok, here is my version of the monthy challenge. i did both the lion and the floral on the same piece of leather. The lion I am not that happy with, I am not satisfied wth the hair on it. I was likeing what I had done, it looked sorta realistic untill I started tooling the hair. It flattened it out a lot. also I did not get the eyes at all. those two are the hardest for me.

The floral pattern was a nice easy one. I changed a couple of things to make it my own but still the same pattern.

ClayM.

Edited February 12, 2008 by Clay

[Regis]

Clay,

Your lines are SO CLEAN. That is beautiful work.

Regis

[ClayB]

Hey Clay,

Your floral carving is awsome, but then that's what we all expect from you

Dont be too hard on yourself on the lion either. It's not bad at all. Like I mentioned on Stephanie's lion, those eyes were tricky. What did you use to put the hair on? It looks like a neat texture. I'd like to see it closer up.

We would cut you some slack since you just found out about the challenge this morning, are home sick and the kids are sick too, but there's no need to, you did a really nice job!