dlilazteca
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Yup, "we" probably tend to think that way. And here's why:
I took no classes or workshops for the first 15 years...
There were none. (At least none that I knew of)
Knowing what I know now, would I have figured out a way to take some had they been available? (1969 to 2014 = 45 years)
DEFINITELY!
I've taken classes EVERY year since the late '80s. (1986 was spent in hospitals)
Not always in engraving, because I also do all kinds of metalsmithing and stonesetting too.
I intend to keep doing this as long as I can work.
I buy books. Every month, sometimes every week. I have a huge library by now and I USE it!
I buy and watch all the videos, I search youtube, I privately email the people who know or have done what I want to do.
Constantly.
Learning never ends, by whatever means available. Nowadays you have a HUGE advantage in the variety of learning methods!
I often learn the most from simply watching my own students and apprentices learn!
So, yeah... find and take hands on classes or workshops or even Internet classes. Do whatever it takes. You won't regret it if you are serious.
You will save yourself more time and money than you can believe possible!
Just by buying the correct tools to begin with - you can save more than the cost of a Basic class where you can try them all out personally, side by side.
Brian
And, you just may find that hand engraving is not for you - (there is nothing wrong with that) which can save you wasting more time and money.
BINGO... Thanks Brian and as Brian can attest I love tools you can buy many many many tools (i have issues need to catch up to Brian) and not know what to do with them or how to use them correctly, until you get proper instruction.
I have been doing this for less than 2 years, but I would not be where I am today without the proper one on one instruction that I have received, and my relentless determination to learn and hundreds of hours of reading and practice.
Start off with drawing like others have suggested, save your money look in the classifieds and buy one tool time, no rush what's the hurry? Now if you want to speed up that learning process then take a class and by good tools.
In today's society we seem to treat our lives like cable tv we want all the channels and on demand and we want it now, no commercials. Engraving is the complete opposite, you don't get all the tools unless you have a good amount of disposable cash, and results are not seen for years.
Saludos,
Carlos
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