Asian Cloud Drawings

[Rob Meixner]

I have been looking at Asian cloud drawings. My grand daughter has them tattooed on her back. They look like they would be fun to engrave. Does anyone do this and can you direct me to an example? Thanks...Rob

[tsterling]

Here's an example of mine cut on a small knife.
Serge_Koi_and_Waves_Bean_Knife_6.jpg

You can see a Work-in-Progress tutorial here:
http://sterlingsculptures.com/wp/?p=3886

Best of Luck!
Tom

[tsterling]

Here's an example of mine cut on a small knife.


You can see a Work-in-Progress tutorial here:
http://sterlingsculptures.com/wp/?p=3886

Best of Luck!
Tom

[R.Quecke]

If you’re looking for proper reference to Japanese clouds and air. I’d look into the names of Horiyoshi 2, Horiyoshi 3, and Yoshitoshi. All have different styles of that element, but all based in the same foundation. These are all tattooers, who are influenced a lot from the Ukiyo-e movement and era of Japanese art. From there you can look into Hokusai, Kyosai, Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi ( and countless more). All good references, but not as stylized or as recognized as Modern Japanese tattooing. Ive got 20 years of studying this stuff as a tattooer and have an obscene book collection on it. Without knowledge of the elements, and the stories, a lot of what you see is done wrong, only because of poor references. I hope this helps point into the right direction.

One more thing, you will run into quite a few different styles that are geographically based. Chinese clouds, Tibetan clouds, Japanese clouds, Indonesian clouds, all different in style and approach. You can see a huge difference in Japanese dragons next to Chinese dragons.

[Rob Meixner]

Thanks to all for your reply to my inquiry. There is something about these shapes that is very appealing to me. I have pierced them out in sterling and used steel to form them in copper, brass and sterling in my hydraulic press, but have never tried to engrave them. Being new to engraving, they will just be line drawings for now, but the exampls you provided of finer work are a lot of help. Thanks...Rob

[paulsph]

Tom, it's a nice knife! But I don't see Asian clouds, only Asian styled water & waves

[tsterling]

Originally Posted by paulsph

Tom, it's a nice knife! But I don't see Asian clouds, only Asian styled water & waves

Yep, you're correct. Sorry for the senior moment, I read clouds and thought waves. Mea culpa, I'll correct that right now, so here's one with Asian-style clouds:

[Blood-Sucker]

Tom, I just love your work. Are the clouds just shaded, or are you sculpting and shading?

Brant Emery

[tsterling]

Originally Posted by Blood-Sucker

Tom, I just love your work. Are the clouds just shaded, or are you sculpting and shading?

Brant Emery

Thanks, Brant! They’re sculpted, the shading just occurs automatically when I blacken the metal, followed by inking.