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The knife is polished, the drawing has been traced onto the leather and the leather is properly damp
We are starting to carve out the contour.
The knife moves toward you. We move it using the middle finger and thumb and using the index finger we push it down to control the depth of the cut.
The depth of the cut should be approximately 1/3 of the leather thickness.
The knife should be held vertically, not leaning it left or right, but leaning it away from you.
So that its point would cut the leather and push it apart.
After all lines are carved we will use a beveller stamp to go across the line.
That will make the design to stand out.
While working with this stamp we are holding it vertically and moving it smoothly across the line.
The arm with mallet must be standing on the table, not hanging in the air.
The wrist is making the hit, and you should try to make all the hits using the same strength.
To prevent leather movement on the table, it is held down using small bags filled with sand or led balls.
I use wrist weights
Keep the rhythm steady.
You can play music that helps you keep your rhythm.
While one hand is rhythmically hitting the stamp, the other hand is rhythmically moving the stamp at the constant speed. This way the imprints connect into one united line.
The strength of the hit of the mallet must be such that the mark left from the stamp is darker than the leather around it.
That occurs because the fibers of the leather get compressed and the oils or fats that are between them pushed out to the surface.
That will only occur if the leather is damp enough.
If the leather is too dry, the fibers will not get compressed.
If it is too damp then the stamp will bounce off like it is rubber.
Ideal dampness of the leather is when the water partially evaporates and the colour returns to the original.
There is another method to determine the proper strength of the hits on leather that is not too thick
On that leather traces of the beveller impressions will be seen on the suede
If you turn over the leather and check on the suede, you will notice the trace of the imprints.
To create a greater contrast between the design and the background we will go over it with a backgrounder.
To make the background more asymmetric, after every hit the backgrounder can be slightly rotated.
After stamping the leather getting stiffer.
It will become even stiffer after using dyes or paints on it.
To return the leathers softness it must be oiled.
The leather will absorb oil and become softer.
We use animal based NeatsFoot oil to hydrate the leather and then wait from 12-24 hours so that it will be fully absorbed.