Rank beginner from UK

J

JCF Silversmith

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
5
Location
UK
Hi there from across the pond, :tiphat:
Been lurking and reading for a while so thought I'd finally post.

Well, I purchased a Gravermax last month and produced these copper plates. Ive only got an optivisor aswell.

Now, I'm a beginner, so apologies for the crude work, but its so hard to find courses here so any hints, tips or 'don't do that' would be greatly received. I just want to get better and ultimately earn a living from this.
The first plate was my fist attempt with the gravermax and the second was my second attempt etc....

I took a weekend course in push engraving about 6 months ago and nothing since but Ive been practicing, looking, reading, and studying what I can.

Thanks,

John.
 

Attachments

  • platefin1st.jpg
    platefin1st.jpg
    147.9 KB · Views: 306
  • photo 3.JPG
    photo 3.JPG
    34.3 KB · Views: 301
  • platefin1.jpg
    platefin1.jpg
    150.9 KB · Views: 303
Andrew Biggs

Andrew Biggs

Moderator
Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
5,034
Location
Christchurch, New Zealand
Hi John and welcome to the forum

You are actually going down a path that most of us have gone down. That is being self taught. Nothing wrong with that. You have also started where all of us have started. Knowing nothing :)

Work hard, practice and learn to observe the difference between good engraving and bad. Listen to good advise and learn the basics well. Practice your design skills with pencil and paper till you are sick of it........then practice more.

Those things, more than anything, will get you to where you want to go.

You've made a good start so just keep at it

Cheers
Andrew
 
R

rayf24

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2010
Messages
574
Location
united kingdom
John
Just my 10p worth get some bright mild steel to learn on copper and brass to some extent are harder steel will give a much better result and follow Andrew advice .
 
J

JCF Silversmith

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2014
Messages
5
Location
UK
Thanks for the advice, I am already drawing lots and will continue to do so. I'll get my self some mild steel and see how that goes and check out the online tutoring aswell.
Thanks again.
 
Dani Girl

Dani Girl

~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
1,110
Location
NSW, Australia.
Good work

Hey, your work is very promising. My tips would be with your fine line shading... make sure you don't go all the way out to the edges of your leaves but leave some blank space there so the leaf is easily seen in it's shape... also make sure your shading lines start with just a scratch from the belly of the graver (120 is good) and get a little bit deeper as they go along. They may meet, they may have a bit of space all the way to the end... light and dark comes from both how thick the lines are and how close they are. Also cross hatching is important. Too heavy with that can look horrible, and they can go straight accross, on an angle, or curved if you want to get fancy. Keep at it.:tiphat:
 
SamW

SamW

:::Pledge Member:::
::::Pledge Member::::
Joined
Jan 31, 2007
Messages
2,430
Location
Castle Valley, UT in the Red Rock country
To add to Dani Girl's comments, work to make your spirals smooth and rounded having no flat areas or abrupt bends and make the spirals that go to a border just reach the border...not stand off or go past.

You have made an excellent start and practice will keep you improving, along with questions on the forum. Though you can do this all on your own, you will find a short class or two will greatly speed things up. If you can find an engraver in the UK willing to give hands on help all the better.

As to the optivisor, that is all I have used for many years. I find a microscope too confining in movement for my taste but do use one on occasion when working on some very tiny detail.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Sponsors

Top