8x11 Fully Carved Notebook

[bob21804]

Wow Bob, that's some beautiful work. Gives guys like me who are pretty new and barely mediocre when it comes to tooling, inspiration to improve.

[Thor]

Absolutely stunning work Bob.

[Bob Blea]

Thank you guys.

[Wild Bill46]

As usual Bob Stunning  !

[isaac]

Great piece,happy customer! thanks for showing us.

[Bob Blea]

On ‎6‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 0:59 PM, bob21804 said:

Wow Bob, that's some beautiful work. Gives guys like me who are pretty new and barely mediocre when it comes to tooling, inspiration to improve.

Bob, all it takes is some practice and you'll be able to do this too.

 

Thanks for the kind words all!

Edited June 7, 2016 by Bob Blea

[bob21804]

I was actually planning to post against and ask you besides practice, practice, practice, what other recommendations do you have for someone who wants to learn to tool leather as well as you. But I guess practice is the best advice. Thanks.

Edited June 7, 2016 by bob21804

[Bob Blea]

6 hours ago, bob21804 said:

I was actually planning to post against and ask you besides practice, practice, practice, what other recommendations do you have for someone who wants to learn to tool leather as well as you. But I guess practice is the best advice. Thanks.

Practice does help.  I recommend picking a really simple floral pattern (ideally something from a craftaid) and carving it five times in a row, critiquing it yourself each time.  Take what you learn, like and don't like, and work on that for the next one.  By the time your finished you'll be surprised how much you improve.  But beyond practice, study the carving styles of people you really admire.  Take really close looks at how they do things, the tools they use for certain effects, etc.  You can learn a lot by looking at how the artists you look up to do things.  And if you ever get the chance to take a class in person with a Bob Park or Robert Beard (or any of the other master leather carvers out there), take it!  You will learn a huge amount from them.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[immiketoo]

You had some serious competition in your category, Bob.  Your figure carving is great as is the rest.  Well done!

[Bob Blea]

Thanks Mike!  Those were some of the best leather carvers in the world.  The level of talent at that show is amazing!