sketch

thanks paulie
i have a long way to go........lots of things to learn.
here is another picture.

Besides some of the things that Andrew pointed out. One major problem with your design is that the flow of the leaves where they would meet the backbones is off. Many of them connect to the backbone rather than flow into them. This causes problems then with shading. It's very important to get the leaf structures to flow into the major backbones correctly because one problem leads to the next.

I think you should spend more time drawing the designs and working these things out on paper before you start cutting. The fact that you have the ability to cut well doesn't override a better made design.

A person can have all the best skills in cutting. If the design isn't right good cutting won't make up for design that's not correct.

On the other hand a person who can't cut as well, will still produce a better looking engraving if the design is correct. The design will override the lesser cutting skill.

The shading and how it looks is related directly to the design being correct.

Chris

thanks christian.
i am still in the dark about several things...........but i am still trying to learn.
shawn