I am designing armor with a tree theme and have a fun idea for the gauntlets, but need some help. I want the forearm portion of the gauntlets to look like tree bark (think oak). The leather I am using is 1/4'' thick (14-16 oz).
Are there any artists out there that can give suggestions on how to accomplish this look? My first impulse is to shave off the surface to get a rough appearance, carve out shallow ravines, dye it dull brown, then dry brush some gray over the top of it.
I am also considering going for a stylized look that is simply reminiscent of tree bark. Not quite sure how to do that without making the leather look like an attempt at cracked earth, but I will try a few sketches.
Any advice or alternative methods would be appreciated.