WSammut
Member
Not fully satisfied, the outer leaves in the NW and SE corners especially need work and shading with ink is giving me a slight struggle but would appreciate any advice or tips or just taking a giant red marker to it.
Critique Request Rip it apart please!
- Thread starter WSammut
- Start date
Pretty nice.
The shading and the overlapping curl/bud at the point of origin for the lower right scroll
need a little sorting out. The unshaded drawing shows it well.
The shading and the overlapping curl/bud at the point of origin for the lower right scroll
need a little sorting out. The unshaded drawing shows it well.
WSammut
Member
Thanks. Not quite sure where you’re referring to. I know I did miss a few lines in the unshaded part that later got put in when shading if that’s what you’re referring to?
Brian Hochstrat
Elite Cafe Member
I would spend some time reading Ken Hunts notes on scroll structure and how to build a design.
The way the bud is shaded puts a "full stop" to the upper line of the undelaying scroll backbone and breaks the continuity.
Only you know what you were trying to depict and maybe that's what you wanted.
Only you know what you were trying to depict and maybe that's what you wanted.
Andrew Biggs
Moderator
Okay, rip it apart I will 
First the good news………..You have some good individual elements going on in this design. Your scrolls are well formed and your leaves are good.
The bad news………………The trouble is when you put it all together it is a butchers mess. It is impossible to critique because it is so random.
So what to do about it?
Engraving design is a disciplined skill. It is not a random doodle. It takes into account things like form (scroll/leaf shapes) balance between background and foreground, harmony with the canvas you are engraving on. And a few other things to boot. We also have to work within clearly defined parameters which are called borders.
What I suggest you do is get a a defined shape like a knife, gun part, watch, jewellery item or anything else you may want to engrave. Take a smoke pull, create the outline and then draw in the borders that you will be working with……………………..Then start your scroll design.
This will give you a defined space to work within and teach you the discipline of drawing within that shape. You will learn things like form, balance harmony and flow.
You clearly have drawing skills but you really need to discipline your approach to it. Once you do that, you will fly
Cheers
Andrew
First the good news………..You have some good individual elements going on in this design. Your scrolls are well formed and your leaves are good.
The bad news………………The trouble is when you put it all together it is a butchers mess. It is impossible to critique because it is so random.
So what to do about it?
Engraving design is a disciplined skill. It is not a random doodle. It takes into account things like form (scroll/leaf shapes) balance between background and foreground, harmony with the canvas you are engraving on. And a few other things to boot. We also have to work within clearly defined parameters which are called borders.
What I suggest you do is get a a defined shape like a knife, gun part, watch, jewellery item or anything else you may want to engrave. Take a smoke pull, create the outline and then draw in the borders that you will be working with……………………..Then start your scroll design.
This will give you a defined space to work within and teach you the discipline of drawing within that shape. You will learn things like form, balance harmony and flow.
You clearly have drawing skills but you really need to discipline your approach to it. Once you do that, you will fly
Cheers
Andrew
WSammut
Member
Much appreciated Andrew!
It sounds like maybe the problem is I haven’t developed “my style” and I’m just throwing elements together that work technically but not so much artistically?
As far as the boarders, I don’t disagree, I was just doing a free form drawing just for the sake of practicing drawing and trying to concentrate more on certain aspects of design without having to deal with too much at once.
thanks for the help
It sounds like maybe the problem is I haven’t developed “my style” and I’m just throwing elements together that work technically but not so much artistically?
As far as the boarders, I don’t disagree, I was just doing a free form drawing just for the sake of practicing drawing and trying to concentrate more on certain aspects of design without having to deal with too much at once.
thanks for the help
Andrew Biggs
Moderator
To many beginners get hung up about the whole personal style thing. It is like trying to run before you can crawl.
So don't worry about "my style" at the moment............Get the basics and foundations of your designs right first by learning in a disciplined and productive manner. From there you develop a deeper understanding of what you are doing and what looks good and what doesn't
Your own personal style will naturally come with practice. It will also constantly evolve and morph over time. If you look any any good engraver today and see what they were cutting 5-10-20-30 years ago it will be totally different.
Cheers
Andrew
So don't worry about "my style" at the moment............Get the basics and foundations of your designs right first by learning in a disciplined and productive manner. From there you develop a deeper understanding of what you are doing and what looks good and what doesn't
Your own personal style will naturally come with practice. It will also constantly evolve and morph over time. If you look any any good engraver today and see what they were cutting 5-10-20-30 years ago it will be totally different.
Cheers
Andrew
gil rudolph
Member
gil rudolph
Member
Great design. I've engraved a design and it did not seem to read very well. The solution was to heavy up the initial line I cut, before shading, especially where one design part crossed another design part. Hope this helps you.......gil rudolph tehachapi, california 6614281566
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