Feeling frustrated (example shown, critique needed)

[Reindeer]

It's a design from one of those Al Stohlman stencils, I'm not designing my own yet. It's 9oz leather.

It just doesn't look right. I feel like I'm doing something wrong. I used to have an issue where I was tooling with the leather way too wet, so I stopped doing that and all my work looks improved, but I still feel like something is not "clicking"? Like I'm missing something about this.

I have most of the Al Stohlman books including Figure Carving Finesse. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming and confusing though, and most of all I wish I could see his work in real life, because I stare at the flat photos in the books and I wonder how deep the cuts are and such...and sometimes it's hard to make out what effect he's trying to teach? I feel like I need to see and touch to really understand, but that's not possible...I don't know any leatherworkers in my area either.

I feel like maybe I'm striking too hard or cutting too deep? Beveling too deep? Using the wrong bevelers? Stohlman recommends certain specific bevelers for figure carving, but I don't have those exact ones (yet). I have these straight bevelers, B935 and the bigger/wider version of that one. Will it really look THAT much better if I use the triangle-shaped "figure bevelers" Stohlman says to use?

Also I don't know what Stohlman means when he talks about using the modeling tool to "smooth and round off edges" of the beveling. Like, I see this ledge that occurs when you bevel, but I don't really understand how to make it round, when I try to use the modeling tool on it it just feels like I'm making the image less dynamic and pressing the edges down so they don't stand out as much. idk if that makes sense.

Obviously the lines inside the animal (supposed to be muscle definition) is a hot mess. Also I suppose I should add some fur texture?

So idk. Any and all advice and critique is welcomed. I kinda like how this turned out because I really like working with thick leather, it allows a lot of depth which is fun, but I still feel like I'm not understanding something about it.

[Basically Bob]

Hey Reindeer - have you been to the Learnleather.com website?  It's a great resource and there are a couple of instructional videos that you might be interested in.  (I am in no way affiliated with the site.  Just a very happy subscriber)

Here's a link:

http://www.learnleather.com/leather-working-videos/page/2/

BTW, I was so frustrated with my basket stamping and the video on Learnleather.com solved the problem I was having.

[JLSleather]

Your carving is not so bad as you think... some small changes will make a big difference.  And yes -- the figure bevelers are worth having

I know it's popular to recommend some y-tube (pronounced 'why-tube') or try to sell you something else, but none of this is necessary.  Just don't understand why so many talk about continuing a very old art, then insist on reinventing the wheel

So, I could write a page here, maybe link some 'stuff', blahblahblah...  OR, I could just point you to an article right on this site where some gal already covered this extremely well

 

[CaptQuirk]

It looks good to me, just a little rough around the edges. Take a modeling spoon to the rough areas you beveled, and that should make you feel better.

[Reindeer]

2 hours ago, Basically Bob said:

Hey Reindeer - have you been to the Learnleather.com website?  It's a great resource and there are a couple of instructional videos that you might be interested in.  (I am in no way affiliated with the site.  Just a very happy subscriber)

Here's a link:

http://www.learnleather.com/leather-working-videos/page/2/

BTW, I was so frustrated with my basket stamping and the video on Learnleather.com solved the problem I was having.

Thanks, I'll take a look, I don't think I've seen this site before.

2 hours ago, JLSleather said:

Your carving is not so bad as you think... some small changes will make a big difference.  And yes -- the figure bevelers are worth having

I know it's popular to recommend some y-tube (pronounced 'why-tube') or try to sell you something else, but none of this is necessary.  Just don't understand why so many talk about continuing a very old art, then insist on reinventing the wheel

So, I could write a page here, maybe link some 'stuff', blahblahblah...  OR, I could just point you to an article right on this site where some gal already covered this extremely well

 

That's very helpful Thank you.

2 hours ago, CaptQuirk said:

It looks good to me, just a little rough around the edges. Take a modeling spoon to the rough areas you beveled, and that should make you feel better.

Well actually as I mentioned, I'm not really quite sure how the modeling spoon works. I've examined Al Stohlman's instructions for it, but I find I'm not really getting the concept of it because the pictures in the books look so flat...I can't really tell what the edges ought to look like. If you think that's what's bothering me though I will certainly try and find a video or something.

[Reindeer]

Well I've been working on him.

I'm still not sure if I'm using the modeling spoon correctly but I think he looks a lot better now regardless. It bugs me how I did the eye though. I can't "un-carve" it, but next time I'll try to do the eye like Yak Lady did in that thread about horses.

I added some hair texture but I'm still not quite happy with the muscle lines. I suppose I might need the special bevelers for that.

[Bodean]

If that's your first attempt it's a good job. One thing about it nothing I ever did came out right the first time. Through experience and practice you will get better. Just don't get frustrated and give up. Live and learn and experiment, and practice.

[Reindeer]

2 minutes ago, Bodean said:

If that's your first attempt it's a good job. One thing about it nothing I ever did came out right the first time. Through experience and practice you will get better. Just don't get frustrated and give up. Live and learn and experiment, and practice.

Well it's my first figure carving attempt, but I've done sheridan and Celtic knots a couple times.

Thanks, that's what people keep saying, but I come from a formal music background, and in music they say you have to "practice smart", always identifying and analyzing what you've done wrong, or else you might reinforce bad habits and go backwards! It's probably made me a bit hard on myself in other artistic endeavors lol. So when I felt unhappy with this deer and couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, boy it's frustrating for me lol, it's hard to just move on. I'll sure try to lighten up a bit and not give up lol.

[JLSleather]

3 minutes ago, Reindeer said:

to "practice smart", ...or else you might reinforce bad habits and go backwards!

You are exactly correct. 

[Bodean]

6 minutes ago, Reindeer said:

Well it's my first figure carving attempt, but I've done sheridan and Celtic knots a couple times.

Thanks, that's what people keep saying, but I come from a formal music background, and in music they say you have to "practice smart", always identifying and analyzing what you've done wrong, or else you might reinforce bad habits and go backwards! It's probably made me a bit hard on myself in other artistic endeavors lol. So when I felt unhappy with this deer and couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, boy it's frustrating for me lol, it's hard to just move on. I'll sure try to lighten up a bit and not give up lol.

I feel the same way as you do with playing guitar. It is hard for me to comprehend. But I could build a guitar from scratch. Some things in leather I am better at than others. I think we have to find our strengths and weaknesses, just like in anything else, and it takes time. Many of us will never be an Al Stohlman, but we can be ourselves. I want to try the figure carving when I have time, but other leather endeavors keep me busy at the moment.