Hi Folks Sorry for radio silence the last few months been working on my mental health along with skillsets. Anyway here's 3 examples of 2 flowers and 1 leaf that I finished up the other day. Stateside learning to tool western floral work is challenging but with classes they are certainly more geared up. Unfortunately the UK has zero groundwork except online learning. Which doesn't offer that one on one basis like a mentor etc. So progression is more slower than I would like but persistence is key.
Anyways hope you enjoy and your welcome for any feedback.
From long exposure, but limited recent practice...Your tooling is emulating and mixing different styles, which isn't a bad thing, just not one nor the other. Deep tooling close to the subject is characteristic of Sheridan style tooling, and done because of the typically tight designs. For single piece subjects, try flattening out the bevel a little more, then using a modeling spoon to knock down the light ridge at the back of the beveler impression. This helps push the background 'back' and reduces the halo effect around the subject. Visually, it creates more depth by widening the space to create more contrast, but subtlety, so the image/subject is pulled forward instead of appearing as something set into the surface. As my friend Michael Dale said: Cut less, bevel more. You might be interested in ELWATS, which will be held in Arnhem, The Netherlands, 17-18 October 25. It is the only large scale trade show for the trade/craft that I'm aware of in Europe. There is more info in the link on leathercraftersjournal.com