Thanks Marklart, I use a number of tools, I was trained in an old school hand engraving shop with hammer and chisel, however since buying a microscope I have been using an air impact handpiece, because it is so much easier to look through the scope and use it.
The "Art of Engraving" by Meek is a fine book. Many engravers have launched careers with little else as a reference. It does contain many expressionist engraving examples which I hope may be superceded by neoclassicism in the modern structure of the engraving arts, But that is merely my opinion as I have come to look at decorative arts from a classicist point of view.
There are a number of schools that teach engraving. Bottega Incisioni in Brescia Italy would be my first choice,as you can study there for extended periods. And it is, after all, in Italy.
http://www.giovanelliengraving.com/In the US there is
http://www.grstools.com I believe, which is in Emporia KS.They offer one week classes with a variety of instructors and I have been on their faculty in the past.
Also, I have occasionally taken on apprentices at my studios here in Montana.
You must be careful what you study, I would try to emulate the best, Ken Hunt, Fracassi, etc.
If you study in Italy dont forget to spend some time at the vatican museum, and the Uffizi in florence.
Good Luck.
BLH
