About the Course
Deep Relief Sculpting
Bas-relief sculpture worked directly into metal, using round, flat, and V gravers alongside custom-made micro hammers and punches.
This course teaches Bas-relief sculpting on metal — a technique distinct from standard line engraving, using all three core graver shapes (round, flat, and V) to carve sculptural form rather than lines. You'll craft your own custom micro hammers and punches, then use them to create folds, rollovers, flat bevels, and concave surfaces in a finished sculptural piece.
Class Details
Duration: 5 days (Monday–Friday)
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (one-hour lunch)
Class size: 4 students max
Prerequisite: Hand Engraving I, II, and III
What's included: Tools provided for in-class use; materials and finished practice pieces are yours to keep
Skills You'll Gain
Sculpt Bas-relief designs directly into metal
Use round, flat, and V graver shapes to execute sculptural cuts
Craft custom micro hammers and punches tailored to sculpting work
Create folds and rollover surfaces within a sculpted design
Create flat bevel and concave surfaces within a sculpted design
Apply surface treatments — line hammer texture, matte, or polished finish — using a variety of ceramic files and brushes
Day-by-Day
Day 1 — Introduction to Bas-relief sculpting: overview of the technique and how round, flat, and V gravers are used to sculpt rather than engrave lines.
Day 2 — Custom tool creation: craft micro hammers and punches tailored to sculpting work.
Day 3 — Folds and rollovers: technique for shaping folds and rollover surfaces using your crafted tools and gravers.
Day 4 — Flat bevel and concave surfaces: technique for shaping flat bevel and concave forms.
Day 5 — Capstone project: bring folds, rollovers, flat bevel, and concave surfaces together on a finished Bas-relief sculpted piece, finished with your choice of line hammer texture, matte, or polished surface treatment using ceramic files and brushes.
What This Class Doesn't Cover Standard line engraving, shading, lettering, inlay/onlay, flare cutting, Bulino, and scrollwork — Deep Relief Sculpting is a distinct sculptural technique, not a line- or dot-based one, and is covered separately from those other courses.
What You'll Leave With A finished Bas-relief sculpted metal piece featuring folds, rollovers, flat bevel, and concave surfaces, finished with a line hammer, matte, or polished surface treatment.