I'm an engraving teacher and I only teach 5-day classes which limits the amount of material I'm able to cover. I have also taught drawing classes and demonstrated to students different ways of building a good vocabulary of scroll elements and styles, which leads them to developing their own style. If I had weeks or months to teach a class, obviously much more could be covered.
The students who are truly driven to become good engravers never put down the pencil and will take what I and other teachers have taught them, and build on it. At the same time, I don't fault engravers like McKenzie whose iconic style inspired - and continues to inspire - countless engravers. He rarely strayed from "McKenzie scroll" and no one ever complained about it. Engravers loved it and customers flocked to him to get a sample of it.
I would rather see one good style designed and executed with artistry, accuracy, and precision, than a multitude of styles that lack those qualities.
The students who are truly driven to become good engravers never put down the pencil and will take what I and other teachers have taught them, and build on it. At the same time, I don't fault engravers like McKenzie whose iconic style inspired - and continues to inspire - countless engravers. He rarely strayed from "McKenzie scroll" and no one ever complained about it. Engravers loved it and customers flocked to him to get a sample of it.
I would rather see one good style designed and executed with artistry, accuracy, and precision, than a multitude of styles that lack those qualities.