I'm just wondering what you would think

[timramp]

I'm hoping for criticism this is the first time I've done shading and second series attempt on steel so don't hold back.

[timramp]

forgot to mention I did not make the knife it's a kersaw. about 3 inch long

[Tim W]

What kind of metal was the graver made of? I tried engraving one of those and found it to be hard stuff. Neat action on those though.

[timramp]

carbide, I keep breaking the tip off butt thats getting better with practise and thanks to help from these forum

[Colt saa]

I like it! Interesting pattern!

[Ray Cover Jr]

Tim,

Thanks for being corageous enough to ask for honest constructive criticism.

First let me tell you what I like about it.

-The pattern is very different than the typical American and English scroll seen everyday.
-I think your use of space is pretty good.
-Overall ballance is pretty good.
-The design works with the object it is on.

Places for improvement.
- Overall finess and fluid movement. There is a hardness and courseness to the cutting. (part of that may be due to cutting hard material with carbide). Practice will develop the kind of finess I am talking about.
-Choose a light source. When I look at the shading I can tell you shaded intersections to get contrast between the parts. That is not a bad thing but you need to do that with a fixed light source in mind.
-The scroll head around the pivot screw is different than the other scroll head elements. It is also shaded differently. This gives this one spot too much bulk in the overall design.
-I am seeing some subtle elbows and flats in the curves as well as places where the scroll does not exactly line up when it intertwines with another element.

Keep cutting...your definately headed in the right direction.

Ray

[timramp]

thank you for the feed back, that what was great. your suggestions won't go to waste