Critique Request Drawing for critique

[RDP]

I have been practicing some shading, I know what you said Andrew about shading the drawing, but if I don't have some reference when I am cutting it, all goes (as you called it ) pear shaped :biggrin:, it has happened before , I have blown it up a bit to try and get the detail onto it, that's an A4 size, hopefully cutting the shade lines will be easier than drawing them( now I know what Sam means on his video) :biggrin:, I think I may have overdone it in places, this is the first try, I know there are always some buts, so what do you think?,
thanks,
Richard.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Richard

I understand what you mean.

This is all about block building piece by piece. You'll never get it in one hit.

With your shading, leave some white space. By that I mean don't over shade every single thing till it turns into a big grey blob. Leave some white on the edge of leaves or at the tips and even down the centres if needs be.

Shading is just an exercise in light and shadow and contrast. So you need white highlights to contrast with black shadows. You can't go past the likes of Phil Coggan's work to see this in action.

There comes a time with your design when you just have to cut it because it's the best you can do on the day. And I would say that you've pretty much reached that point with this design. When you have finished it you will take the lesson's from this exercise onto the next project. You'll also learn the relevance of leave shape and how it affects the shading. One thing always has an influence on the other and drawing and cutting go hand in hand.

Keep it up. It's very pleasing to see how you've developed

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Marrinan]

Richard, You and Andrew are dead on with over shaded. He has provided very sound advice. I will add that you seem to have left out an outside leaf at about 11 o'clock as I compare left to right. Fred

 

[RDP]

Thanks Andrew, it sure is a lot to take in, , but I am not in a hurry to get there, so I will take one step at the time, I have learned a lot from this exercise, and you have help me to see a lot of things that I could not see before, so I guess I will try and start cutting this weekend if all goes well.

Fred, yep funny that, just when you think you have it, , thanks for pointing that out, this was just to practice the shading so no big deal,
Richard.

 

[rayf24]

Richard
Don't forget to take photo's of the differant stages I think a lot of folks would like to see each step. I would agree with Andrew leave some white highlights to make it pop as Andrew said Phils work and my favorate Shawn
Ray

 

[RDP]

Ray, I will try to remember to take photos as I go , still not happy with it, so I am still touching up here and there,
Richard.

 

[rayf24]

Richard
I know it's hard for old folk to remember but would be nice if you do maybe put a post-it on your bench were you can see it !!!
Ref the touching up I hope thats the drawing your refering to other wise you may get arrested if you try it in franklins or K mart ?? well the policemen agreed with me about over the freezer just not in a supermarket good job I left the country before the court date :banana:
Ray

 

[Marcus Hunt]

Like Andrew says, beware of over shading. It's not always necessary with engraving and sometimes less is actually more.

 

[RDP]

Thanks for you comment Marcus, I understand, but when I look at the drawing while I am shading it looks to plain, and then I over do it :beatup:,
practice, practice, practice!!

Ray, ease off the mower fuel mate!! you're are killing brain cells
Richard.

 

[RDP]

This is where I am at

After a couple of weekends, I have cut and removed background, ready for shading this weekend, , I have to get the shading research going now, here we go, and a one, a two,
comments welcomed,
thanks for looking.
Richard.

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Nicely done, Richard. You should be pleased with your efforts so far.

Shading........this will make or break the work. So here is my advise to you.

Relax and take your time with it and think everything through properly. Time and speed are not an issue here. Getting it as right as you can and accuracy is the issue.

Don't wing it if you are unsure of what you are doing. Look for some engraving work by Phil Coggan, Sam Alfano or any other world class engraver. Either in a book or on the internet. Let these works guide you as you go. Have the book or printout next to your work bench. Study the shading of leaves that are similar to yours. Look for light areas (unshaded) and dark areas (shaded)...........If you are unsure, quickly draw the leaf with a pencil and shade it to see the effect. With a very light touch use a needle burnisher (or pencil) and draw some guidelines on the metal first if you have to.

I would also start on the secondary leaves and scrolls first. Not the main scrolls.........if you make a mistake on the secondary leaves it won't be that noticeable. This will allow you to get into the swing of things as your shading will improve as you go.

Your doing well, keep it up.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

Nice cutting Richard, but look at your background, I think you forgot one area at least. Of course I could see it different than you.

arnaud

 

[TyG]

That's some pretty nice cutting mate.

 

[rayf24]

Damm If your not getting some of the best advise from the big boy and that plane is looking hot and not one propeller to be seen
like the boys have said dont over shade and take your time if you do make a crappy cut step back have a coffee then come back with a clear head and move on most people will not see the odd bad cut except us here and then we will make you pay :thinking: Richard it would be a shame to screw it up now but if you do please show it so I can take the mic :biggrin: good luck.
Ray

p.s skype saturday (uk) morning if you have time or catch up soon mate.

 

[RDP]

Thanks Andrew, I am very pleased with my design( thanks for your help) and cutting so far, much better than previous times, you tell me this will make or break, and then tell me to RELAX?? you must be joking , I will research the shading stage, I like Sam's shading, I will look into that more closely, and a lot of other ones as well, (even yours), I like the idea of starting on the small scrolls, before I stuff up big, :biggrin: thanks,

Arnaud, trust you to pick that, I should have used the other photos,

Ty, thanks mate, slowly learning,

Ray, best advise I could ever wish for , don't worry about the propeller, I haven't done the other side yet there may be room for one there
and there will be no screw ups on my shift mate, :no:
Ok for Sat morning (UK time)
Thanks all,
I will keep you posted,
Richard.

 

[RDP]

Shading progress??

Ok, I sort of painted myself into some corners with my shading at times, and it shows , and there is lots of room for improvement but after some research this is what I came up with, I don't think is overly done, but expert opinion may disagree with me, I am still thinking of some crosshatching need be done, what do the experts think?,
thanks for looking,
Richard.

 

[Arnaud Van Tilburgh]

Not bad at all Richard, sure I'm not the expert.
What I think need practice it having the scrolls right. Some are a bit oval instead of rounded but I suppose you see that by yourself.
Other thing you probably see too, is the two big scrolls in the center, the wideness of the one that goes behind gets a too tiny, would look better if they would have equal wide stems.
The other thing, if you have a black background, don't put a shading line close to the border/background, instead leave a white highlight, otherwise the shading will become part of the background.

just mu two cents

arnaud

 

[rayf24]

Man you should be happy with that sure one could point
out spots that need work but I think you can see them
without me taking the mic. I like it you have done well and after the big boys have had their say it will be time to move on with the other side and apply their comments there do show that as you go

Ray

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Richard

No, it's not over shaded. I think you've struck a nice balance with the shading and the white areas.

It's clear that you have taken your time with it and also put quite a bit of thought into the whole thing. You've shaded the over/under areas really well so it give the appearance of depth.

So all in all, well done. When you consider how this thread started out you've done well. The plane you posted at the beginning of this thread, and what you have just done, look like they were done by two different people.. One being very amateurish and the other looking like a professional job. Arnaud has pointed out a few things and they can be corrected by you over time on other projects. You also have a big blank space on a leaf on the top centre scroll.................It's now a matter of refining your work with each new project.

You should be very pleased with what you have engraved. It looks great and will get better from now on. Keep observing top of the line work and see how it can be compared to what you are doing and bit by bit refine areas that need improving.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[rayf24]

Andrew steady with the professional bit you of all people should know that sort of talk will swell any Australian head worst of all Richards a Queenslander a simply attaboy or throw a few well done scraps, but to used such language as professional here and you a moderator and all.
Well yes ok it does look far more professional than the last plane with the submarine propeller. :biggrin:
Sorry Richard I couldn't help myself/ it looks great better than my last scratching.

Ray