Scrimshaw: Second attempt at scrimshaw

[Keeling_Machines]

This is my second attempt at scrimshaw, using only a scribe and black India ink.
This is a knife I made completely by hand, the handle material is a polyester based ivory substitute(I live in California and any real ivory is out of the question due to the strict laws here).
I believe it is a bit softer than real ivory or bone and it relatively easy to work with even though it’s pretty gummy.
Let me know what you think!

 

[vondershred]

Amazing!

 

[papart1]

Nicely done

 

[Mike576]

Wow. looks great!

 

[mobaiz]

Very beautiful piece

 

[dhall]

One of the things that makes this effective (aside from a compelling image) is the broad tonal range, i.e. from black to white.

If pure black is a 10 and pure white is a 1, you've captured the full range from 1-10, and that almost always enhances a monochrome representation - photograph, drawing, and in this case, scrimshaw. Bravo!

Best regards,
Doug

 

[John B.]

Excellent !!
Very well done.
Both the knife and the scrim.
Lets see more of your artistry !!

 

[papart1]

Are your WHITE spots untouched please?

 

[papart1]

$

 

[Keeling_Machines]

Are your WHITE spots untouched please?

Yes the white spots are untouched, I haven’t used anything except black India ink here

 

[Keeling_Machines]

Thanks John, there will be more!

Excellent !!
Very well done.
Both the knife and the scrim.
Let’s see more of your artistry !!

 

[Mike576]

Is the ivory substitute called col849/tm?

 

[thughes]

beautiful work

 

[papart1]

Yes the white spots are untouched, I haven’t used anything except black India ink here

Thanks, some put very tiny lines in white spots, that's the reason I ask. Your knife looks exceptionally beautiful,, Rob

 

[papart1]

Yes the white spots are untouched, I haven’t used anything except black India ink here

so in your opinion, the only difference between scrim and bulino is the wiping of ink on the scrim please?

 

[Leland Davis]

very nice work.

 

[Keeling_Machines]

so in your opinion, the only difference between scrim and bulino is the wiping of ink on the scrim please?

Well not exactly.
I still wipe ink in bulino work as well.
I suppose the only difference is that I’m using a scribe as opposed to a graver.
For bulino work with a graver the dots I do are diamond shaped where in this scrim with a scribe the dots are circular.
But honestly I don’t see much of a difference in the overall result

 

[Keeling_Machines]

very nice work.

Thanks!

Is the ivory substitute called col849/tm?

it isn’t that exact product but it is a polyurethane based product that I believe is similar in chemical composition.
I actually have ordered some of that col849 after reading your comment! Thanks

 

[Keeling_Machines]

One of the things that makes this effective (aside from a compelling image) is the broad tonal range, i.e. from black to white.

If pure black is a 10 and pure white is a 1, you've captured the full range from 1-10, and that almost always enhances a monochrome representation - photograph, drawing, and in this case, scrimshaw. Bravo!

Best regards,
Doug

Thanks for the kind words!

 

[John B.]

Masterful composition and scrimshaw.
Thank you for posting your work, photos and explanation.

John B.