Introduction and NY knife pic

B

Brian Hochstrat

Joined
Nov 13, 2008
Messages
19
I just wanted to introduce myself, it was mentioned that one of the knives I engraved was posted over here, so I looked it up, but then started reading other threads and have found this forum quite interesting and informative. I participate on the engraving forums but after reading this forum it shows a different, not always positive, view of engraving. It was interesting to hear how others (non engravers) view the work and give their HONEST thoughts. Political correctness has become a blyte these days, and it is hard to get the truth. As I have read, that is not the standard here.

Here is a pic of the knife I just finished and sent to the NY show. If you are going to be there, and would like to see it, Michael Donato, will have it. Comments and critique welcome. Thanks-Brian
ribbongirlcopy.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I'm not really a fan of engraving, but, it's hard to say anything bad about this...... for obvious reasons.:D:thumbup: If you are going to impress someone with engraving nekid ladies are probably a good place to start.
 
I like the Gwynneth Paltrow side, but the Reese Witherspoon side is not as well done, IMO.

Welcome to BladeForums, you have a lot of talent, we are fortunate to have you show an interest.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
I like the Gwynneth Paltrow side, but the Reese Witherspoon side is not as well done, IMO.

Welcome to BladeForums, you have a lot of talent, we are fortunate to have you show an interest.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...
Are you going blind, STeven? The first girl is clearly Kate Hudson post implants;) But seriously...nice work.
 
What's the story behind the engraving?
 
Welcome to the forum. I hope you stick around. It would be great to have your perspective and knowledge here.

For me, engraving is all about the quality of the work AS WELL AS how it flows with the knife.

It's much like damascus patterns. Some really add to a knife's overall look, some just make a knife busy.

That is EXACTLY how I feel about engraving.

While I don't know that I think the nudes do THAT for a knife... I am NOT one of those people that think nude engraving is pornography. The nude female form is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL thing we have on this earth, and I think it should be celebrated.

I certainly like the ones you engraved as part of that celebration :) :cool:
 
First Welcome to the forum.. I'm not a fan of nudes on a knife, but your work looks to be very artistic and well thought out. The Female likeness is hard to capture in metal two dimension work.. Congrats on your attempt...
 
Brian-

My post was lacking. I meant to say that you have crazy mad skills... you are VERY talented.

This pic borrowed from your site is the kind of stuff that I think flows with a knife so nicely


0208will-henry.jpg
 
And an example of how talented this guy is folks!!! :eek: You know,not just anybody gets to scratch on a Kious knife! :D ;)

Hochstrat_04Arthur.jpg
 
Your work looks to be outstanding, not easy to do the human figure and you've done it well. The last one posted by Nick is amazing!

Thanks for participating.

win
 
My first opportunity to work with Brian came over a year ago. I was immediately impressed! Here are a couple of samples:

orig.jpg


orig.jpg


Detail?
orig.jpg


Welcome to this forum, Brian. The accolades come as readily as the honest comments. We all learn.

Brian, what is your other job?

Thanks!

Coop
 
Brian, you are definitely a very talented artist. I'm another that doesn't like to see nudes engraved on knives. That doesn't take away from the great work you did. The other examples of your skill that I have impressed me a great deal.

Engraving has to be done exceptionally well for me to like it. Too many times I have seen animals that just don't look right. Your animals look the way they should.

Just to give you an idea of my taste in engraving, the hummingbird with flower scroll is my favorite of the scenes posted here.
 
Welcome Brian. I have been a fan of your work from the first time I saw it. Good to see you here.
 
Thanks for the welcome and good reviews.

STeven, my critique of it was, on the right side the hair and pose was better, the left side, the face was better, and that photograph was better, it picked up the range of tone, the right side photo, the lighting gave a flat/dull look. But I had to go with the pics I had, being the knife was in the mail shortly after I shot the pics and before I really looked at them. Usually I use Coop, when I am not pushed for time.

I generally do not pick the themes, people say what they want or we bounce ideas back and forth until we get something we like, and then I work within those parameters. I am lucky though, I can say no to a job, being the engraving is viewed as a reflection of me, I do have to control what I engrave, if I feel the theme is redundant and dull, or distasteful I simply suggest a different avenue for the theme or a different engraver. But most commonly people are open to suggestion and I try to be that way as well.

Nudes are tricky, you have to make it both alluring and tasteful, I have seen knives where I think to myself " oh great, it is a knife with boobs":barf: So not wanting the same result, I really try to keep the main focus on the faces and curves of the body as the really good guys like Torcoli do. A woman's face is the most difficult thing to engrave, you have to depict softness, proportion, and beauty. One or two micro cuts will alter the look, as will angles of lighting. Bulino is best viewed outside or with a direct light coming in at a 90 deg. angle. The faces are about .5 inches square and there are about 2000 small cuts that make up the shading in that area(all cut by hand, stippling with a pneumatic tool is NOT bulino) If the cuts are small enough the eye will not focus on each dot so they will blur together and what you will see is gray tone. Typically I spend 6-8 hrs just on the shading of the face. Ok gotta get to work. Thanks again -Brian
 
Brian, I think you are a very talented engraver and it shows in your work. That said I'm with a few of the other guys here in that I don't care for nudes engraved on knives. The only exception in this is your work on that Broadwell folder The Galactic Warriors. But then again they aren't full monty;)

Marcel
 
Brian Hochstrat said:
Thanks for the welcome and good reviews.

STeven, my critique of it was, on the right side the hair and pose was better, the left side, the face was better, and that photograph was better, it picked up the range of tone, the right side photo, the lighting gave a flat/dull look. But I had to go with the pics I had, being the knife was in the mail shortly after I shot the pics and before I really looked at them. Usually I use Coop, when I am not pushed for time.
Click to expand...

Like the hair on Gwynneth better...the cut off elbows on Reese is not ideal, and you are right, the lighting flattens it immensely.

Agree with Keith, the hummingbird on the Osborne is off the hook! REALLY don't like the dinosaur engraving.

I used to be a full time tattoo artist, and Bill McHenry gave me an engraving lesson on brass plates one day....sucked bigtime....but at least it gave me an appreciation of how hard hand engraving is.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top