joseph engraver
Elite Cafe Member
The Painful Point,
Being old and living in what are called the golden years is a neat deal. I can sit in the shade and wonder about any thing my heart desires. I have engraved, sculpted, overlaid and inlayed most of the common animals that are in demand by clients. Now I paint. No masterpieces, just simple small canvases. I have no idea if what I am doing is technically right or wrong. These are not my paintings. They are what a power beyond my understanding commands me to paint. After working in the black to white spectrum and COPYING every feather and hair, painting is a great relief.
Many times when I was in front of my work, at the engraving vise, I wished that I could make the lake green or the river blue. As years flew by, I decided that one day I wanted to paint things that do not exist. It was while peacefully following the directions that came to my mind while painting that I thought about the pain I went through learning to work with the hammer and chisel.
What discomfort I felt was zipp compared to what millions have gone through just to exist. Which brings me to the painful point, Do you possibly think that any artisan has not been frustrated, cheated, disappointed, ridiculed by their critics?
What’s the big deal? Of course they did, and that pain pushed them forward. I got in some hard times while studying in Italy. It was my own fault, I was not prepared for the complications of living in a foreign Country, and that made it difficult, I have experienced my share of pain but it was never brought on by my tools. So if you have this curious desire to try working with hand tools they will bring you no pain, only a deep satisfaction,
January 23, 1982 (From my journal) “Engraving school is wonderful. Six hours of design and drawing lessons a week. Hours and hours of cutting smaller and smaller circles on practice plates, everyone is nice to me. I know with perspiration, perseverance, and patience I will master this art of engraving. Loneliness and cold are my biggest enemies. Somehow, they seem to go hand in hand. Maybe someday it will all be worthwhile. Look after me Lordâ€
Being old and living in what are called the golden years is a neat deal. I can sit in the shade and wonder about any thing my heart desires. I have engraved, sculpted, overlaid and inlayed most of the common animals that are in demand by clients. Now I paint. No masterpieces, just simple small canvases. I have no idea if what I am doing is technically right or wrong. These are not my paintings. They are what a power beyond my understanding commands me to paint. After working in the black to white spectrum and COPYING every feather and hair, painting is a great relief.
Many times when I was in front of my work, at the engraving vise, I wished that I could make the lake green or the river blue. As years flew by, I decided that one day I wanted to paint things that do not exist. It was while peacefully following the directions that came to my mind while painting that I thought about the pain I went through learning to work with the hammer and chisel.
What discomfort I felt was zipp compared to what millions have gone through just to exist. Which brings me to the painful point, Do you possibly think that any artisan has not been frustrated, cheated, disappointed, ridiculed by their critics?
What’s the big deal? Of course they did, and that pain pushed them forward. I got in some hard times while studying in Italy. It was my own fault, I was not prepared for the complications of living in a foreign Country, and that made it difficult, I have experienced my share of pain but it was never brought on by my tools. So if you have this curious desire to try working with hand tools they will bring you no pain, only a deep satisfaction,
January 23, 1982 (From my journal) “Engraving school is wonderful. Six hours of design and drawing lessons a week. Hours and hours of cutting smaller and smaller circles on practice plates, everyone is nice to me. I know with perspiration, perseverance, and patience I will master this art of engraving. Loneliness and cold are my biggest enemies. Somehow, they seem to go hand in hand. Maybe someday it will all be worthwhile. Look after me Lordâ€