Critique Request Please critique my work

[SamT86]

Dear Engravers, thank you for accepting me, I’ve been dying to read about your expertise and your insight.
Just a few words about me, so that you know where I am coming from.
i am Lisa, 38 years old and very fascinated by scrollwork and hand engraving / engraving. I started practicing 1.5 years ago, did the beginner course by @sam a few times and i am now working through Ron smiths second book, I ordered from the US. I am drawing a lot as you can see on my homepage or my instagram. (LisaHauserArt)

But I need some feedback from this very skilled community. I don’t know but I think I am missing something. Ive been practicing back bones, leaves,fold overs. I started my own designs just a few weeks ago. I wanted to focus on the basics. But I don’t know what’s wrong with my design.
I am very open for constructive criticism but please don’t bash me.
I am very looking forward , what you experienced people have to say about my progress.
until then, all the best from Germany,
Lisa

p.s. My username is actually my earlier name when I was a musician

 

[JJ Roberts]

I believe your off to a good start keep drawing and keep us posted. J.J.

 

[ByrnBucks]

Good evening Sam and welcome,
Keep an eye on your backbones, that maybe why it feels just a little off to you. Keep it up and have fun with this wonder endeavor.
Have a wonderful week. BB

 

[SamT86]

Thanks so much @JJ Roberts and @ByrnBucks for replying so fast ! Thanks for the love, that’s very nice to hear !
@ByrnBucks ah Jeah I can see it, they are off! The second scroll from the bottom on the left, just starts, it doesn’t follow the flow of the first bottom scroll and the top ones are „eggy“, right? Could you maybe draw over it, so that I can see better ? I am trying right now, but I can’t get it quite right it seems… That was my first freestyle drawing directly on a cake server are the elements ok? Are they following the right flow?
have a nice day, its 7 in the morning in Germany I am off to work.
all the best, Lisa

 

[SamW]

Lisa, this is how I draw your idea.

 

[SamT86]

thanks so much @SamW ! I am still learning and figuring out, how to place the scrolls in a good manor.
I am actually working on a new design, maybe some of you have some thoughts on it?
I am very eager to learn and happy to hear from experienced guys like yourselves !
all the best, Lisa

 

[ByrnBucks]

Good evening Lisa,
I’m not exactly qualified to be critiquing in a meaningful way for you, for lack of personal ability. That being said a few of your elements are “growing” backwards and are easy misses and nothing to worry about, just something to look for them in the future.
Have a wonderful day. BB

 

[SamT86]

Hi @ByrnBucks ! Thanks for your reply! But i dont get , how it should be instead? Is the rest correct in the laws of scrollwork?
Could you draw how it should be done and help me understand?
All the best, Lisa

 

[DMM]

I believe this is what he means. the green is flowing from the origin point and the red is traveling the opposite direction to the flow from the origin.

I would also say, try focus on getting the backbones of your scrolls flowing smoothly and evenly before you add any extra details, once the background foundation is correct, the extra elements will fall into place

 

[SamT86]

Thank you so much @DMM ! That helps! But I have trouble to figure out how the backbones should flow in that given shape, if i don't change directions. should the red one follow the flow? Would you be so kind to maybe draw the correct backbones over it? Taht would help me a lot!
all the best!

 

[DMM]

I hope using the red doesn't come across as abrasive, I just wanted it to show up well.

Personally I would avoid large shapes like circles, squares, or triangles. The empty space allows too much wandering and any imbalance or odd layout in the 'white space' affects the overall image.


Id recommend drawing over images of coins. I've found that filling in the blank spaces around the characters or images on them gives restrictions that you have to work around which leads to better results when you have a blank canvas. Here's a coin a did a while back, notice I made some mistakes in the curves of the backbones but the limits of the available space actually made it easier to fit the backbones together.
Ideally when you're finished laying out the backbones there should be a roughly even amount of blank space available between lines. (this isn't always true, of course, but it's a good thing to keep in mind and get used to thinking about the balance of the spaces and how it affects the engraving as a whole when getting started)

 

[SamT86]

Thank you so much @DMM ! That helps a lot!
I understand what you're saying and the red doesn't come off as abrasive, it helps me understand and I know you want to help me and I really appreciate it!
In the original is no empty space, there is font.

The coin looks really cool! Good work!
For now I'll stay with larger pieces because I don't have the equipment

 

[ByrnBucks]

Thread 'Basic 'rules' of scrollwork'
https://engraverscafe.com/threads/basic-rules-of-scrollwork.5295/

The first post in this thread is a wonderfully insightful way of thinking about the anatomy of your scrolls.

Later take the time to Search for some of the amazing designs posted here and elsewhere. Try to approach viewing and breaking down these designs not as a whole, but by finding the “beginning“ and following the scroll bit by bit.

Something that is easily overlooked while viewing a masterful design….. is that nothing “jumps out” or pulls the eye to one spot. The entire design will just feel like one beautiful thing.

These designs are wonderful to take a journey through, follow them like a path and enjoy the places they can take you.…..”Discover” the reason the path is there.

Like finding a well worn trail in the forest there’s usually a reason its there.

 

[SamT86]

Hi @ByrnBucks ! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me. The thread you mentioned, I have read it, but it’s hard to understand because English is my second language and I am visual learner. I also did the course from Sam Alfaro and studying the book from Ron smith. I also took designs I likes, traced the back bones, the elements and made myself some step by step instructions to better understand. I also screenshotted the different steps from Sam alafanos clips on insta and various videos on YouTube. This design was the first I really tried to apply what I’ve learned, but I knew something was wrong, so I am so happy that @DMM for example took the time to really review and mark it. It helped me a lot and I am here to learn. I really appreciate your words and will keep going !
all the best from Germany,
Lisa

 

[Goldjockey]

Hi Lisa. It’s clear you’re working very hard at getting the flow and feeling of good scroll design. I certainly relate and applaud your efforts. If I can make one suggestion at this point in your journey, it is to start simple with good backbones and work to get the foundation right before you move on to more complicated things like more complex leaf elements and flourishes. Those will be important later on, but you first need to build a solid foundation to work from. DMM is definitely pointing you in the right direction in terms of the foundational work you need to do to create successful, pleasing scrollwork. Would love to see just some beautifully crafted backbones from you!

Viel Erfolg, und schöne Grüßen aus Texas!

Mike

 

[SamT86]

Thanks so much @Goldjockey for your kind words! I will take them to heart and keep you posted ! Sonnige Grüße aus Stuttgart Deutschland Lisa