You won’t see personal style in your embossing at first. You won’t see it in the examples either. It will evolve over time as you make consistent choices, develop preferences, encounter limitations, and practice. At first, you will be concerned with holding the tool correctly, with the depth of the impression, and with the quality of the line. All of these are important, but they leave little room for personal style. As your technique matures, and you can comfortably reproduce lines and patterns, your style will begin to emerge.
As you gain confidence in your ability, you will start making deliberate choices. You will find that some patterns are easier to execute than others, and that you are more comfortable executing some patterns than others. You will find that some pieces seem to call for dense patterns while others seem to demand a lot of open space. Listen to these inner voices. They are telling you about your technical abilities, but they are also telling you about your design preferences. As you continue to practice, they will inform your decisions about layout, spacing, and emphasis, and eventually will evolve into a discernable style.
Now is a good time to experiment. Change the depth of your impressions. Modify a traditional pattern. Combine tools in non-traditional ways. This sort of exploration will help you to discover your technical preferences and proclivities, but don’t just thrash around. Make one change at a time, and observe the results. Practice those things that you like until you are comfortable with them. Eventually they will become automatic, and will influence your style.
Finally, your finish technique will affect your personal style. The way you bevel, the way you buff, the way you use finish to bring out contrast will all influence the final appearance of your embossing. Understated finish will emphasize the pattern and your technical skill. A more dramatic finish will emphasize the texture and dimension of the leather. This is just one more opportunity to express your personality and emphasize your message. Your personal style isn’t limited to just the embossing. It can carry through every aspect of your work.
In conclusion, personal style is the synergy between technical competence and artistic vision. It’s a product of both your ability and your intention. Don’t rush it or force it. Trust the process, and it will emerge over time with practice and patience.
