More sketching of blackleaf engraving designs

[sam]

I can do this for hours and never get tired of it.

 

[AliAtiyabi]

Stunning work Sam, Thank you for sharing.

 

[dlilazteca]

thanks but....

Sam,

Thank you for sharing so much to study in that sketch thank you.

I would love to see a complete video on drawing black leaf scrollwork, I mean taking me by the hand(NH) and showing me from a to z the do's and dont's. is there such a thing already? I've seen some but its always just a bit here and a bit there. Who's up to the task?

nonetheless thank you!

 

[Roger Bleile]

Blackleaf is probably my favorite style of ornament. I can draw individual leaf elements, similar to your sketch, but have trouble making a flowing design to fit into an irregular space.

BTW, what is the significance of the SV monogram in the lower right corner of the sketch?

 

[Dave London]

Drawing flipped should be in upper left SA

 

[sam]

Thanks guys

This is just a random doodle page that I kept adding to as time went by, so it's not what I'd consider to be a complete design. Anyway, blackleaf is the most challenging of ornamental designs that I've ever encountered. Scrollwork is far more predictable (and teachable) but blackleaf is different. About the only thing I can say is to start with a flowing backbone to get a general shape to fit the area you're designing for, and then start adding the ornaments to the backbone.

The bottom line is to fill some sketchbooks with practice drawings. There's no other way to become proficient with it without spending a lot of time drawing. It took me several years to get to where I wasn't ashamed of my blackleaf designs and I still have a very long way to go. But I'm not so concerned about the destination since the journey is so satisfying

 

[Jan Hendrik]

I love this type of design. The flow seems more natural to me.

 

[monk]

sam: just curious. i assume you save all your drawings. if so, do you ever go back thru them to create a new engraving? or is all your new work just created without referencing your drawings?

 

[sam]

sam: just curious. i assume you save all your drawings. if so, do you ever go back thru them to create a new engraving? or is all your new work just created without referencing your drawings?

I sometimes refer to my sketchbooks when doing layouts. Like this page for instance, there's a variety of different elements and I might use one or some of them when designing for a job. Most of the time they just come from my head, but I don't hesitate to use reference material if/when I need it.

 

[matthew.townsley]

Looks so great! And for all of the teaching materials out there, and produced by yourself too, it's always good to hear how important drawing is to engraving. It can probably never be overstated!
Thanks for showing.

 

[rmgreen]

Would love to have a Sticky Thread of your sketches like K. Hunt!?

 

[mitch]

I sometimes refer to my sketchbooks when doing layouts. Like this page for instance, there's a variety of different elements and I might use one or some of them when designing for a job. Most of the time they just come from my head, but I don't hesitate to use reference material if/when I need it.

i do that all the time. i've gone back thru 30-yr-old sketchbooks looking for a little something to fit a design i'm working on and to re-remember some of what i've forgotten.

 

[Brian Marshall]

Yeah, that "re-remembering" thing... gets done more and more often these days...

“When I was younger, I could remember anything, whether it had happened or not; but my faculties are decaying now and soon I shall be so I cannot remember any but the things that never happened. It is sad to go to pieces like this but we all have to do it.” Mark Twain

Or this one: "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." also Mark Twain


Brian