Graduate Hand Engraver

From complete beginner to professional hand engraver — every core technique we teach, across seven continuous weeks.

This is the full hand engraving curriculum taught as one sequential, 7-week program: progressing through Hand Engraving I and II, English Scroll Engraving, Hand Engraving III, Metal Inlay & Onlay, Decorative Alphabets & Monograms, and finishing with Flare Cutting.

No prior experience is required, though a one-week Hand Engraving I class beforehand can help you confirm the craft is a good fit before committing to the full program.

Western Engraving, Bulino Engraving, and Deep Relief Sculpting are not included here — all three remain available as standalone electives for graduates who want to continue specializing after the diploma.

Class Details

• Duration: 7 weeks, Monday–Friday

• Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (one-hour lunch)

• Class size: 4 students max

• Prerequisite: None

• What's included: Tools provided for in-class use; materials and finished class projects are yours to keep

Skills You'll Gain

• The full technical hand engraving skill set: bench and equipment setup, microscope use, graver sharpening and custom tool creation, fine shading, scroll and ornament drawing, and deep relief engraving

• English scroll composition and engraving, from basic cuts through a finished fine bouquet of flowers

• Wire inlay and sheet-metal onlay technique across brass, copper, silver, and gold

• Block, script, Old English, and ornamental monogram letter engraving

• Flare cutting: a sculptural engraving style using two opposing cuts to raise a center ridge

Week-by-Week

• Week 1 — Hand Engraving I: bench and equipment setup, graver sharpening, line cutting, shading, and background treatments.

• Week 2 — Hand Engraving II (4 days): shading planning, scroll drawing and finishing, relief backgrounds, and intro wire inlay. The standalone version's Day 1 skill-refinement review is folded into practice time here, since those fundamentals are still fresh from Week 1.

• Week 3 — English Scroll Engraving: basic cuts, spirals and backbones, combining cuts into a full design, finishing and shading, and a fine bouquet of flowers capstone.

• Week 4 — Hand Engraving III: fine shading, scroll and design drawing, deep relief engraving, and gold inlay accents on scroll flourishes.

• Week 5 — Metal Inlay & Onlay: wire inlay, sheet-metal onlay, and custom tool crafting across brass, copper, silver, and gold.

• Week 6 — Decorative Alphabets & Monograms: copperplate script, block, and Old English lettering, plus ornamental leafy monogram letters.

• Week 7 — Flare Cutting: graver sharpening for flare cutting, line and curve flare technique, and a capstone applying flare cutting to scrolls, flowers, and ornamental designs.

What This Class Doesn't Cover Diamond setting or any topic from the Diamond Setting track — this program is hand engraving only. Western Engraving, Bulino Engraving, and Deep Relief Sculpting — all available as standalone electives after graduation.

What You'll Leave With A complete portfolio spanning every core hand engraving technique taught — line work, shading, scrollwork, relief engraving, inlay and onlay, decorative lettering, English scroll, and flare cutting — with finished pieces across a range of materials and objects, ready to work professionally as a hand engraver.