Half way...

[KCSteve]

Thank you Paul!

That series is very informative. It's surprising how rough your initial cuts can be (I assume that's partly because you're doing a rush job). Sure cleans up pretty in the end!

On the one hand I hate that my day job keeps me away from my bench. It's nice that it lets me have time to pop through the forum, but still...

On the other hand, it pays for all my stuff so I can (slowly, slowly) learn to engrave so that someday I can, perhaps, do something like this.

So how will you be able to reverse that one flower? Mostly sculpting?

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Steve, it is nothing to do with rush, take a look at unfinished marbles of Michelangello, vigorous and deep cuts with enough excess material left for modeling is exactly what you need.
The flower is reversed.
Glad you have a regular job to put a bread on the table.

 

[Tom Curran]

Paul, as my day goes on, while polishing a flintlock up from castings, my thoughts tend to wander. I must tell you, that I cannot count how many times my mind settled on your work. It is absolutely stunning to me. It is so rich with foliage and creatures, and such a old look of Baroque, perhaps.....

I also muse on how much time you might spend on drawing, where you draw your inspiration from, etc.

To say the least, I am very impressed, and so happy to see someone in this day and age making something so elegant. I am touched very deeply by your dedication to the art, and find your work so inpirational.

If you can do this, I can too, my subconscious is whispering.

After looking and thinking about your work, I realized something about myself. It is this: If I can draw it, I can make it.

After realizing this, I want to tell everyone that drawing cannot be overemphasized or overlooked. It is THE most important skill in your toolbox.

Thanks for sharing you work.

Tom

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Tom, you are very kind, thank you.
Indeed I came to the gun engraving and jewelry from the full scale art, such as etching, sculpture and painting. It was blessing to be a pupil of classical school masters in my native Lithuania, when all the world has been busy in breaking traditions and inventing again and again the same tricks since about year 1913.
You are right, the drawing is the key to the quality in all arts, no matter if it fresco, or belt buckle.
My advise to all who is engage in engraving - constantly egzesize your mind and hand in drawings from nature, copying old masters and finally drew from your own imagination.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Some of many hundreds.
Copes of Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, etc.
All drawings made in museums from originals.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

My own from nature and imagination.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

More drawings.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

jewelry design sketches.

 

[ED DELORGE]

Hello Paul, thanks for sharing your work with us. It is a privaledge to be able to communicate with you. You are a very dedicated artist. Thanks again

Ed DeLorge

 

[Andrew Biggs]

Hi Paul

That's outstanding work. Each picture a small work of art all by itself.

Thank you for sharing all that with us. It's truly inspirational!!!

Cheers
Andrew

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Just want to show direction for many beginners. Engraving is not limited to clean, smooze scroll only.
Also it is not possible to unleash all your fantasy on the objects, like a guns, because a customers are telling, what they wish to see and paying money for.
Any way, it has to be some middle ground, extra miles and compromises in our trade.
Glad, you like my drawings.

 

[Tira]

Thanks for posting your work, Paul. I'm with Andrew - every picture is a study in itself. Beautiful and inspirational!

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Hi Tira!
More.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

more drawings

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

drawings...

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Most of free hand drawings are done during a numerous trunk shows I has been involved running a jewelry business in nineties. Those with butterflies are from Neiman Marcus trunk shows. Hundreds were given to customers, stores managers and owners, it helped a lot to sale jewelry and keep a good relations with clientele.
Hundreds remains in my vault.
Now I have to finish the last shotgun of 2008.

 

[KCSteve]

Beautiful work Paul!

That bracelet design in msg #33 is outstanding - did you ever make one to that design?

Thanks for clarifying that your initial cuts are rough & ready not from haste but because you've got the experience to know how smooth you need to be to avoid extra work in the later stages and are able to cut just to that level - and no more - so you can work most efficiently.

One nice thing about looking at work like yours (that really is 3D) is that it helps me visualize how my shading should be on my (much simpler) work.

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

Steve, it is great if some of my knowledge can pass to you and many other engravers.
The bracelet is done in a few different variations , 18K Gold and Sterling. Same for the most of jewelry drawings.

 

[Tom Curran]

Paul, Paul, Paul.........just when I thought Christmas was over........you post all these marvelous drawings!

Get back to work on that gun. I'll ask you more questions after you're done. Holy Mackerel! Thanks so much for this series of drawings. I am going to get my pencil and sketch pad out, blow off the dust, and get drawing! Thanks again.

Regards, Tom

 

[PAUL LANTUCH]

It's done!
Customer agreed for less work on the barrels, in this technic it is much faster.
SO, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!
Going to sleep till next year.