Day 3 concluded around 5pm, though I didn't end up leaving until 7pm. There seems to be no limit to Mike's generosity or his eagerness to teach what he knows.
The final class incorporated the foundational lessons of the prior two classes and used them as building blocks for more advanced applications. The primary focus was letter work. Letter work is a very heavy subject, but Mike broke the letters down during the lecture phase on a marker board so that each letter became a combination of basic techniques we were already familiar with from the prior two days. Different types of boarders, inlaying metal into metal, and different graver profiles and there application was also taught. The hands on work focused on reinforcing foundational skills learnt from the past three days of class.
Mike has been talking to us throughout these three days to see how we would like to one day engrave our name on a piece, giving advice on different artistic flourishes. At the end of class, he brought out a small section of barrel cutoff for each student and demonstrated engraving the signature each of us designed on the top flat, then giving them to us to take home as a study piece. I know it should go in my shop, but it's probably going to end up on my mantle, it is such a work of art. The letters are so playful and lively.
In conclusion, this has been one of the best experiences of my entire life. I know I say that a lot regarding classes, but that's just because it's true. We are a fortunate community that has access to the very best artisans in the world. I do not want to give the wrong impression to anyone reading this, I did not go from a blank slate to an accomplished or even competent engraver in 3 days. I was not expecting to. But what I did do is go from somebody who knew absolutely nothing whatsoever about engraving to someone who can shape and sharpen 4 different types of graver blanks and profiles, half a dozen different ways of mounting work pieces, half a dozen different ways of transferring patterns, diagnose problems, I can look through a loop on a finished piece and know what tool the artist used to create the cut and how they used it, I can understand engraving books, I know how to shape a hammer handle and different ways of using it to drive a graver, I know how to cut lines and curves and shade, I can cut heavy lines and skinny lines and create different effects, and most importantly I gained a mentor for life. Mike exchanges his number with all of his students so that you can contact him with problems you encounter.
I did not go into this class expecting to become a master engraver, but what I did leave with far exceeded anything even I could have expected. What I left with was total confidence and understanding in a field where my only limitation is my own desire to improve.
