A great resource that even experienced designers, engravers, and artists use in their work is copyright-free artwork. Most collections include hundreds, if not thousands, of examples from time periods ranging from Art Deco to Ancient Babylonian art. Not only are these images great for study, engraving artists can start with these designs and make them unique with changes from subtle to extensive.

Here is a wonderful engraving by Sam Alfano based on one of these copyright-free designs. He engraved this in stainless steel as a live demonstration during a recent trade show in Basel, Switzerland. The design is based on a horned man from the Dover book "Scroll Ornaments of the Early Victorian Period." By comparing the book design carefully with Sam's finished work, you can see definite areas where he did his own thing, sometimes quite subtly. These changes are often more important when changing media, such as from a design on paper to an engraved image in metal.

Engravers can use these images to study period styles, be inspired to create something new, or make a derivative work. Copyright-free images can be helpful, but check out any publisher's notes on their use. For more books with copyright-free images, here are a few inexpensive choices:

Scroll Ornaments of the Early Victorian Period by F. Knight
Decorative Alphabets and Initials edited by Alexander Nesbitt
Art Nouveau Frames & Borders by Carol Belanger Grafton
Florid Victorian Ornament by Karl Klimsch

Tools used in this engraving: GRS GraverMach with Airtact, Monarch Handpiece Palm Touch Element, GRS Engraving Block and Turntable, Meiji Zoom Stereo Microscope.