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22 September 2006
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“Copying Another Engraver's Work” −by Sam Alfano
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"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" so it is said. While this might be true, few professional engravers are flattered when their designs are copied. While being inspired by another's work is certainly ok, designing jobs that are difficult to tell from someone else's is considered a breach of etiquette in the engravers world. While it might be painfully obvious that the copied work is not cut nearly as well as the original, small photos in magazines or online can make it confusing and difficult to detect.
An exception to this might be certain production western or jewelry patterns as styles have changed little over the past decades. Scrollwork, however, is as unique as a person's handwriting. Experienced collectors and engravers can recognize another's work quickly by its characteristic style. A classic example of this would be the scrollwork engraved by Lynton McKenzie. Lynton's scrolls were basic but bold, and beautifully cut. Many engravers (including me) began their careers engraving 'McKenzie scrolls' because they were easier to draw than more complex patterns, looked good, and were certainly easier to cut. Over the years, McKenzie scrolls have been engraved by several engravers on a variety of guns and knives, and many were published in magazines. In nearly all cases the work wasn't as good as Lynton's, but was impossible to detect in small photos. Engravers were copying and selling a style which took him years to develop, and he was angered and frustrated by it. He was not the least bit flattered. Most engravers' styles eventually evolve into a unique style that is their own, while borrowing ideas and influence from others. It is when there is nothing of themselves in their engravings that the practice is frowned upon, and respect by peers and customers is lost.
It should be mentioned that copying another's work on practice plates is one thing, and selling someone else's identifying style is another. Few beginners are prepared to draw designs, so they copy the work of those they admire. This helps them learn by working out the sequence and direction of cuts. When it's time to graduate from practice plates to real-world engraving jobs, the engraver should be prepared to abandon the copying and lay out his or her own designs. If he or she chooses not to, there are plenty of copyright-free pattern books available.
Sam has invested a tremendous amount of himself in iGraver.com. In what he calls his "Tips&Tricks for Hand Engravers" he generously shares what he has learned over many years...
Engraving: Leaf Script, Stippled Script, Beveling Cuts, Threading/Ribbon Cutting, Engraving a Rosette, Relief Engraving, Exhibition Grade Shading, Roman Lettering, Intersecting Lines and Cutting Straight Lines.
Gravers: Sharpening Gravers, Polishing Gravers and New Life for Old Laps.
Miscellaneous: Scribers&Pencils, Photography, The Golden Mean, Pricing Your Work, Sam's Equipment, 10 Common Mistakes, Copying Another's Work, Blackening Engraving, Photoshop Tricks, Student Photo Gallery, Your Own Website! and Classified Ads.
Other Info: Videos and More, Classes&Private Lessons, Contact Information, About iGraver.com, Link To This Site and Go to MasterEngraver.com.
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