OTHER WORK | Engraving
2 min read
From 2003 to 2005 I was studying at the Gemological Institute of America. I took several courses from gemology to jewelry design and bench jewelry. During my bench jewelry course, I found that the repair and production of jewelry, while very interesting and a useful skill to have, wasn’t my passion. Instead, I was more drawn to the dying art of hand engraving.
Hand engraving is a beautiful form of cutting in metal. A tool, called a graver is used to cut away the metal to create designs. Typically, engraved items are jewelry, guns, knives and other metal keepsakes.
In 2005, after finishing my studies at GIA, I went to Steyr, Austria to be an apprentice with a master gun engraver, Martin Strolz.
Here I was able to marry my love for design and creativity with a passion for creating beautiful designs in metal.
MY PROCESS
EMPATHIZE
meet with client
DEFINE
client's needs
IDEATE
brainstorm and sketch
CREATE
custom piece
DELIVER
final product
EMPATHIZE
The first and most important step of my design process is meeting with the client. Having the face-to-face interaction allows me to get to know the client and her wants and needs. We start by looking at pictures to better help with deciding the needs. In this meeting, I typically ask questions like:
• What style of engraving are you interested in?
• If we are engraving a picture, what is the meaning behind it? If we will be engraving initials, whose are they?
• What excites you most about the types of designs I create?
• Are there any specific requests you would like to make?
• Do you have a specific budget you need to stay within?
These questions help me understand better what I am creating and for whom, so I can make something that the client will cherish and appreciate for years to come.
DEFINE & IDEATE
Once I have understood what the client needs, I look at engraving books and other design resources to get inspiration. I then sketch various designs to show the client.
INSPIRATION
SKETCHING
CREATE
Once the sketches are finalized, I began transferring my design to the metal. When the pencil drawing on the metal is complete, I use a scribe to lightly scratch the outline into the metal. Then, I attach the piece onto my engravers ball and can begin cutting the metal.
FINAL DESIGN
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