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Bulino DVD #023-073

Last night I had the pleasure of previewing the new Basic Technique For Bulino Engraving DVD by Chris DeCamillis, and I have to say that I've never seen the process explained in such an easy to understand way. The video begins with an introduction followed by five chapters on sharpening, graver geometry, basic cutting, form & feather effects, and cutting fur, eyes, & noses. Chris' emphasis is line engraving bulino (as opposed to all-dots) which renders very strong, contrasty images, and focuses on the the critical parts you need to create beautifully engraved bulino animal portraits.

Chris begins with an explanation of graver geometry which could forever change the way scenes and portraits are engraved in steel. Feeling there might be something better than the normal 80° workhorse graver that many bulino engravers use, Chris' experimentation with different geometries shows how a few degrees of change can turn a grey line into a rich, black line. He shows an example of this by cutting patches of lines starting with an 80° tool and finishing with a 110° tool. You have to see it to believe it, but as the graver becomes a few degrees wider the patches of lines get darker and blacker, allowing the engraver greater control over shading and contrast than ever before (watch a free YouTube video clip from the DVD). His graver material of choice is the new C-Max carbide from GRS which is incredibly strong and especially suited for this type of engraving.

Chris shows clear, detailed close-up video of preparing and sharpening gravers with a new technique of diamond paste polishing on a cast iron lap (that I am anxious to try). He emphasizes the importance of a high graver polish in order to achieve lines that trap the light normally scattered from non-polished cuts. His new geometry and highly polished graver makes his bulino work even more dramatic, with beautiful transitions from light to deep black.

In the Form & Feather Effects section of the video Chris begins with explanations of various techniques for engraving bird feathers in a lifelike way. While you might think outlining a feather and then filling it in is the logical process, he shows ways to create feather shapes without outlines that are amazingly realistic. From the soft underbelly to primary and secondary wing feathers, he shows you exactly what you need to know to engrave birds with a high degree of realism, including the dark striped feather markings of some species.

I was especially surprised to see how Chris does contour shading, and would have bet (and lost) that he cuts a lot of curved lines. Not so. He shows how cutting deep, straight lines at the edges and gradually working your way across the shape in rows of cuts, varying the depth, angle, and spacing, to create a beautiful transition of black to grey to white...and all with straight lines. The end result is deceptive, and at first glance appears to be curved lines that follow the contour, but it's all done with straight cuts that create layers of beautiful shading and texture.

Chris also explains and demonstrates how deepening and darkening certain areas actually lowers the surface of the metal creating what he calls micro-sculpting, giving the finished image 3-dimensional form.

After the lesson on birds, Chris moves on to furry animals and demonstrates ways to engrave lifelike short and long fur. He explains that the lines you cut are not the fur, but the negative space around the fur. This is important to know since it's the unengraved (or very lightly engraved) metal that becomes fur. Combining lines and short cuts and dots, a realistic randomness of hair and textures grows before your eyes.

Realistic eyes and noses are what separate mediocre work from great work, and Chris captures the sparkle in the eye and shiny black nose with photo realism. His micro-sculpting approach models and shapes these elements to perfection as he explains the process along the way.

For fleshy areas Chris uses lighter cuts and dots for a soft, smooth effect. He demonstrates by engraving a layer of light dots that are followed by more layers of dots and cuts to create contour, shade, and depth.

Chris DeCamillis is a master of the art and being able to watch through his microscope as he explains and demonstrates the processes of bulino is an enlightening experience. His many trips to Italy to study with some of the world's best engravers and his constant pursuit of improved methods has made it easier for all of us to elevate our work to a much higher level. Chris says more videos on advanced bulino technique are forthcoming, so now is a good time to get this one and hone your skills and be ready for what follows.

If you're beginner, a working professional, or a collector who wants to see how these miniature masterpieces of the bulino art unfold, this video is an absolute must for your library. You can order from GRS.