With all the preparation done, I was aching to start engraving.
The transferring and outlining with the scriber gave me a false confidence, as when I started to actually engrave the results were something like this:
My initial thoughts were that it is like drawing in reverse. To have the best control over your line, it is worth keeping a constant pressure. This means that you tend to move the metal, rather than your hand, to create the shape.
My first few attempts, in all honesty, were fraught with mistakes. I was slightly comforted to know I wasn’t the only one, but it taught me the most fundamental part of engraving is patience.
One thing I struggled with was keeping the engraver at the angle of set, which is about 30 degrees. I remember being taught at school how to hold a pencil properly, but despite my teacher’s best efforts, it wouldn’t stick. Inelegant though it is, I currently hold a pen/pencil almost in a clenched fist. It is pure concentration reminding myself to keep it flat, as all my muscle memory implores me to do the opposite.
By keeping it flat, you have control over the depth of the line and are more likely to avoid breaking the tip of your engraver, which requires you to go back to square one. For a smooth, wide line you push hard and then maintain the angle. For straight lines, this is really satisfying. Feeling yourself slide through the metal looks and feels beautiful, until you have to face a curve.
Note the quality of the straight lines, next to the jagged curves.
My biggest obstacles when engraving are curves, and slipping, which tend to occur at the same time. To successfully create a curve with the same width as your straight line, you move the metal and keep your hand still, with the graver rotating slightly away from you.
More often than not, upon reaching a curve, I either end up digging into it, so the depth is different and creates a jagged rather than smooth line, or slipping.
Slipping is when you slide straight off your design towards the edge of the metal, leaving a permanent mark. This can be aided with polish, but is one of the single most frustrating things about the process!
The ultimate truth to engraving, is patience. If you find yourself frustrated, take a break. If you make a mistake, remember that when the design is complete, it will be less noticeable. Mistakes can be worked around. Breathe and come back to it. The beauty of it is in it’s traditional complexity, and there are no short-cuts.
