Engraved Money Clip

[Crazy Horse]

This site hasn't been getting the traffic it once did. Many have gone to a couple other sites that deal in engraving. That's not bad, but I like to see the work and engraving that the artists and craftsmen produce on this site. There are some real clever and talanted dudes here.

That being said I just finioished this money clip that I'm not happy with. Scroll design needs help. I wish I were more artistically inclined. You be the judge.

[rhrocker]

CH, you carved the bird? Dang, looks really good to me! I don't have a trained eye, and can't comment on the actual scrolls cept I'd like to have it!

[J. Barraclough]

Very nice, Crazy Horse.
Great little timberdoodle.
And I think the scrolls remind you of the natural enviroment where they are found.
Best regards, John.

[peterinct]

I can't see why you are not happy with that. Looks great to me. The bird is very well done.

I agree that not as many posts of work recently. Maybe just a slow time of year?

Peter

[gravertom]

I love the bird, and the scroll too.

A suggestion, may be if you had left the two tendrild out of the top ortion, and ust used leaves as you did at the bottom, it might be a titsch better?

I'd be proud to have done such work!

Tom

[Crazy Horse]

"Gravertom" that's exactly what I thought. The only trouble was that I saw it "AFTER" I cut it. Also the leaf on the far right should have been convex as opposed to being concave. I also bent the clip short and the tendrill rolled over the top. Should I go on???
Oh well, I'm learning. Thanks for the input.

[gravertom]

I'm still learning. keep it up!

Tom

[Tim Adlam]

John,

I think this is a nice job.
The relief work on the woodcock really impressed me, well done.
I also think that you're on the right path with being critical about your scroll work.
Not being satisfied means that you'll figure out why something bothers you about the design...
and you will find a solution to make it better next time.

A Critique on the Woodcock:
The outstanding thing I see is the short length of the bill.
[Hunters who know their birds would spot this right off.]
I think this resulted because your mind-set was with working within the confines of the oval.
If you would've extended the bill to it's normal length, and perhaps crossed it over the border...it would look both anatomically correct
and much more dynamic..like the bird was flying through the oval.
Remember, you can create borders or outlines for your patterns...but you don't have to be bound by them with your designing.
You have a nice composition here...it would be worthwhile to do another version.

Tim

[Crazy Horse]

Tim, your suggesting something like this;



As I said, I wish I were an artist. I should have left those leaves in the lower right side out. It seems I always make some mistake in design. I find it difficult to have the ellipse border roll out to a leaf. Something I keep working on with little progress. (Maybe next time...)

I do appreciate the input and suggestions from you and others.

[Tim Adlam]

John,

Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Including the secondary leaves is really a judgement call.
The leaves on the lower part of the woodcock piece flow with the direction of the scroll and help balance out the design.
On the quail piece, the lower leaves go against the flow, and distract from the design.

Often-times it can be just as effective to keep the frame or border simple with less complicated decoration.

Tim

[Ray Cover Jr]

Well all I got to say is this.

I think it is about time "Gary Owen" moves on to cut a knife and gun or two.

I have seen a few of the last money clips you have cut and they have looked nice. I would dare say you can probably make more money cutting this type thing on knives. With the drought of engravers in the knife market I dare say you would get plenty of work.

Ray

[Crazy Horse]

Stop!!! You'll swell my head to the point that my hat won't fit anymore. Seriously, Thanks for the compliments, but I've got a long way to go before I hang a shingle.

I've been charging $75 for my clips without any sculpting. Currently I have several back orders. I can only make and engrave them in my limited spare time, so that means I can only get one and with a little luck 2 out a week. I have a Gravermeister but I only use it for the long elliptical cuts and some of the background removal. About 85% of the cutting is done by hand (push). (I need to take one of your classes)
I have 2 gun shops that buy my stuff. They double the price when they sell them. When I ask for $100 for the pieces with extra scroll and sculpting or background I get a lot of crying, so I suppose I'll have to be happy with what I get.

This Setter took about 12 hours from start (flat stock) to finish, maybe a bit more until it finally began to bark at me. My wife told me not to quit my day job. (She's always right )