Hi Dave and others,
When I said I’d got the engraving bug, I didn’t necessarily mean I
wanted to BE an engraver by trade and I certainly did NOT think it
would easy, just that I enjoyed my initial excursion into the art
and intend to have a go, practice lots and see where it takes me. I
can draw, I was good at calligraphy so I can do lettering at least on
paper and have put the mileage in with respect to miles and miles of
lines in ink so I’m not afraid to do exactly the same in metal with
a graver. No it won’t be easy but challenges by their nature are not
easy, but I do love a challenge. I want to have a go at pretty much
every aspect this gold/silversmithing trade has to offer, and I
don’t just mean dipping my toe into the water and then moving onto
something else. Every new thing I learn, I make mistakes with, just
like everyone else, but that’s what teaches me more about it all. I’m
a firm believer in mistakes being one of the greatest teachers of
all. You learn more by the mistakes than you do from getting things
right. When things go wrong, you have to analyse why they went wrong
and then work out how you would change things the next time you try
it.
I’m still building on my stone setting “skills” and of course will
be for the duration of how ever long I work metal for. BTW I do know
that engraving and using gravers in stone setting are different
animals - I’m just having a go at both techniques and will continue
to practice, practice, practice and hopefully at some stage I’ll be
able to incorporate them into the work I’m producing.
It’s all good fun along the way. Many thanks to all those offering
advice. I’m sure I’ll be back for more!
Helen
UK
http://www.hillsgems.co.uk