The Engraving Process
I start with a pencil sketch taken from either a photograph or a real life scene. This drawing is traced onto the surface of the woodblock using carbon paper, the block first having been stained black with india ink. Cutting into the black surface allows me to see the engraved “white line.” In essence, I’m adding white line to a black background, imitating sunlight as it illuminates objects.
Randy Miller
Wood Engravings
Text and images copyright © 2000 by Randy Miller. All rights reserved.
Site updated Sept 4, 2010
The partially engraved boxwood block rests on a sandbag with gravers at hand
all photos on this page by Tafi Brown
To engrave a curved line, the graver tool is pushed into the wood and held steady while the block is rotated by hand as it rests on the sand-filled leather bag. Other gravers are used for creating dots, straight lines, and for clearing wide spaces of wood. Later on, when making a print, everything that was engraved into the block does not receive ink and therefore prints white, while the surface of the block not engraved (the raised portion) receives a coating of ink and prints black.
Engraving Old New Hampshire Hills, July 1976. The engraving tool rests against the thumb and is pushed into the wood with the palm of the hand
After the drawing has been traced onto the block, I add further details in pencil
Randy engraving a view of the New Hampshire Historical Society building
Randy’s finished clock-face wood engraving, before printing. The roman numerals were engraved in reverse, while the wood surrounding the numerals was carefully cleared away by hand.
