More practice. Belt blank

[JLSleather]

One more 

This will show how much difference you can get using the same design, same basic tools, just by putting the "BOP" in the wrong place.  Somebody sent me this pic of a purse strap (bottom) and wanted another set made.  Note how the tooling was "bopped" DOWN where it should have been UP, and the difference that makes.

At their request, I used the same tools - with the exception of adding the "stop" tool to the ends of the stems.

[kseidel]

You are practicing trying to learn how to carve and stamp the leather, without a good understanding of what you want as a finished look.  I would encourage you to draw or trace the pattern on paper, and then shade in all of the details with your pencil.  Black out the background, shade, draw all of the veins and mule tracks, etc, and draw in the finish cuts.  Be as precise as you can.  Then when you stamp in leather, try to duplicate what you have drawn as precisely as possible.  What you are doing now is very haphazzard and make-it-up as you go, without a specific plan, and that shows in your finished work.

[Stetson912]

@kseidel, that's a good idea. I will have to take a pattern and do that. You are right I don't have a go to plan. I just go for it. And while it's an improvement it's not great either. I will have to come up with a solid plan. 

[Stetson912]

@kseidel, is this what you meant? I think I like this process. At least for now. It helps me visualize the final piece and how to get there. My drawing is horrible but it gets the job done. This is a Don Gonzalez pattern available on his site. But if this is not allowed please remove. 

It is a print out, I just added the shading and textures etc. The bevel shading is pretty light on here but I did add it. Let me know if you see anything that should be changed. Thanks again for the help.

[terrymac]

Barry King sells a packet of belt patterns done by Bill Gardner, one of the godfathers of the Sheridan style carving. Well worth the money. They were are tooled by Clinton Fay, and include a complete list of the Barry King tools used.

Good luck

Terry

[JLSleather]

  

[Stetson912]

Haha thanks Jeff. I had you in mind when I went to creating my plan. Lol 

[kseidel]

On 4/17/2018 at 3:26 PM, Stetson912 said:

@kseidel, is this what you meant? I think I like this process. At least for now. It helps me visualize the final piece and how to get there. My drawing is horrible but it gets the job done. This is a don't Gonzalez pattern available on his site. But if this is not allowed please remove. 

It is a print out, I just added the shading and texcures ect. The bevel shading is pretty light on here but I did add it. Let me know if you see anything that should be changed. Thanks again for the help.

Good job!  Now you are closer to having a plan and purpose for the look you are trying to make with the tools you are using.  Draw in your finish cuts before you cut them in the leather.  It is most profitable to practice right and learn the right way.  Much harder to un-learn bad practices.  As you go forward, try to make each cut and stamp perfect... exactly where and how you want.  Practice perfection!  Good luck!  Keith

[Stetson912]

Well, I used my plan and tried it again. Took into account everyone's advice too. Best as I could remember. Here it is.

[Rockoboy]

You are definitely improving. I don't mind the cuts you made on the scrolls instead of using a veiner, but I do think the veiner looks better.