elk & oak

[ClayB]

It's really nice to get such nice comments on these pieces from people who's work I also admire, and from people who's friendship I really value. Thank you all very much.

One of these days I think I will have to do another oak leaf picture similar to the the one I showed here. I'll try and take some pictures to show what I did. It really wasn't all that difficult. Not sure if I could show all the steps in the elk project and make it make sense. There was quite a bit of trial and error in that one.

Thanks again to each of you for your comments, every one of them is appreciated a lot.

Clay

[Luke Hatley]

ASWUM WORK CLAY..... WOULD YOU HAVE AN IDEA AS TO HOW

MANY HOURS ARE IN THE DEER PICTURE ?

[ClayB]

Thank you Luke,

I worked on that picture on and off over a couple months. I am not sure how many hours it took because I kind of figured out each step as I went along. Some things worked the first time, some I had to do over a few times to find something that I liked. I would guess that if I tried to do it again, it would take 25-30 hours, maybe? The things that took the most time was trying to get rid of all the fuzzies on the edges on the tree branches once they were cut out, and also cutting out all the leaf clusters. The leaves were stamped with a Craftool foliage stamp and them cut out with filigree chisels and glued onto the branches. I'd sure be open to any suggestions on how to smooth out edges on little odd shaped pieces like that.

[Dale]

...

The leaves were stamped with a Craftool foliage stamp and them cut out with filigree chisels and glued onto the branches. I'd sure be open to any suggestions on how to smooth out edges on little odd shaped pieces like that.

First, try cutting them with a scalpel at an angle -- gives you a thinner edge. The edge looks more natural for leaves and the scalpel probably gives you fewer fuzzies than a lot of little cuts with the chisels. The fuzzies can typically be burned off. Use a lighter or something with low flame...blow torch is too much!

Dale

[ClayB]

Dale,

I tried a scalpel too like you said. I bought a bunch of scalpel blades off ebay and wonder if they are really that good of quality? I usually strop them before using them and change them a lot, and they just didn't seem all that sharp. I also used matches to try burning off the fuzzies. It worked fairly well on the leaves, and gave them a little color, even though the whole project was not colored. I also tried an idea Kathy gave me of rubbing the edges with Skidmore's leather cream and that laid the fuzzies down pretty good but not like if I could have burnished them somehow. I am wondering if a different kind of thin leather like kangaroo or goat would work better for the things I want to cut out? Thanks for the suggestions.

Clay

[Dale]

Ooohh. You stropped before using them? Don't do that. You probably made them dull. They're made for surgery...they're sharp.

Dale