Dante's Inferno theme engraving

This is a job from a couple months ago. This was one of the most intense themes I have done. Tons of details in very small places.

The theme was Dante's Inferno and the images are based on Dore's illustrations for the book. The toughest part was that I had to alter the images to make them fit the format of the windows. I had to make the altered images still recognizable as the classic Dore illustrations.

The "frames" are sculpted and the images are bulino engraved. The scenes on the hidden panels were also bulino engraved. The knife was made by Joe Kious of Kerrville, TX.

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...88801533_n.jpg

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...99134635_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...28990880_n.jpg

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...93067453_n.jpg

I am completely amazed. Speechless even. That is some of the most beautiful engraving work I have ever seen.

:bow:bow That is true art, all the details....wow amazing!

As already mentioned, stunned and amazed at the grace of that work. Wow!

Wow........

Stunning and breath-taking. Please start attacking razors!

A true artist. Told you so before, telling you again. A master at his craft. Nuff Said ;)

Ho Lee Cow! Wonderful. Is the blade Damascus? Yes, PLEASE get some of that work onto some razor scales. Magnificent.

Speechless.....

Someone commission a razor from this man! Truly amazing work.

Thanks guys,

I actually have my first two razors planned out. One is going to have a lot of sculpting like this on the shank & tail, and matching carving on the wood scales. The other is going to be a false frame back (with engraving) inspired by one I recently saw at the KC meet.

I have to get a few ducks in a row first. I have a few projects that I need to get wrapped up and out of my way first so they are not under foot while I am working on the razors.

Ray

Can't wait Ray. They will be spectacular I'm sure :-)

I want to see you engrave a double shoulder along with the shank and tang! I also think if you were to do your engraving along the spine and then around the wedge it would look pretty sweet. Excellent work on that knife handle too.

OMG! Thank you for posting that...what a work of art.

When I see someone who is able to effortlessly play a musical instrument beautifully I always wonder what it's like to have that kind of talent. I think the same thing when I see your work, Ray. Your stuff isn't simply technically flawless, it's also very artistic.

Holy cow. As a Dante fan I am stunned, If there were a razor with that engraving I would take out a hefty loan to own it.

Ray, that is stunning. I can't say I have ever seen engraving that nice. You are a true master. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

I have no words for that, it's just too amazing to take in! Thanks for sharing!

That is some of the nicest engraving I have ever seen, I am stunned that such beautiful work can be done by hand. The owner of that knife has a true heirloom piece that will outlive us all, and awe people with it's beauty for centuries.

That's confoundingly beautiful.

Simply breathtaking, Ray. I had trouble w/ stick figures. Now I know why I don't do artistic stuff. This is so beautiful its enough to make ya cry.

Ray, WOW!!! As I looked through your photos I was amazed at your level of detail here. Facial expression, muscle tone, positioning..... Mind blowing! Thanks for sharing this. Best Regards Ken

Salutaions,

Years ago I drew detailed artwork, what you have done here has just reminded me I gave up too soon. As far as Dante's Inferno goes, the Seven Deadly Sins could be portrayed on a seven day straight set. >.> ... just a thought, but a price on such a set would be impossible to calculate.
Beauty was the first word that came to mind at the sight of the engraving, but I feel that it doesn't even come close to what we are all seeing there. What you are able to do with your abilities is inspiring, gives me something to aspire to after I master restoring razors. I tip my hat to you sir, amazing skill followed by excellent taste in literary epics.

Cheers,
JackofDiamonds

WOW! Amazing work.

Reckon you could push one out with a 'Blood Meridian' theme?

Absolutely stunning work.
The mind boggles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

Salutaions,

Years ago I drew detailed artwork, what you have done here has just reminded me I gave up too soon. As far as Dante's Inferno goes, the Seven Deadly Sins could be portrayed on a seven day straight set. >.> ... just a thought, but a price on such a set would be impossible to calculate.
Beauty was the first word that came to mind at the sight of the engraving, but I feel that it doesn't even come close to what we are all seeing there. What you are able to do with your abilities is inspiring, gives me something to aspire to after I master restoring razors. I tip my hat to you sir, amazing skill followed by excellent taste in literary epics.

Cheers,
JackofDiamonds

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That would be an extremely expensive seven day set. It would be way cool but would also be way pricey. Your looking at a months labor here at a $60 per hour shop rate. A seven day set of razors would be more because there would be a good bit more surface area to engrave.

I could calculate it quite easily. My pricing structure is based on a per square inch method that gives me approx $60 per hour for my labor. Some jobs i make a little more per hour some a little less but at the end of the year it averages out to $60 per hour.

Now before you get stunned realize that being self employed, my health insurance, all of my social security and my overhead comes out of that $60 every hour. So that is not what I make as personal income. That is a shop rate.

Ray

Wwwoooowwwww!!!!!!

(cue the crickets) Silent reverence is appropriate here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RayCover

That would be an extremely expensive seven day set. It would be way cool but would also be way pricey. Your looking at a months labor here at a $60 per hour shop rate. A seven day set of razors would be more because there would be a good bit more surface area to engrave.

I could calculate it quite easily. My pricing structure is based on a per square inch method that gives me approx $60 per hour for my labor. Some jobs i make a little more per hour some a little less but at the end of the year it averages out to $60 per hour.

Now before you get stunned realize that being self employed, my health insurance, all of my social security and my overhead comes out of that $60 every hour. So that is not what I make as personal income. That is a shop rate.

Ray

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You're on $120,000 a year Richie Rich:rofl2:

No. I do go fishing every now and then. I do take vacation time to enjoy life. Like I said that $60 and hour is not salary that's shop rate. All the expenses, health insurance and overhead is backed out of that before I can take salary out of it.

I do not beleive that just because a man is an artist he is obligated to work cheap or starve. How much I take as salary is between me and the IRS. Holly and I do OK. We aren't millionaires with money to waste but we don't do without a whole lot either.

And from what I have seen of your work it commands the price you ask. :rock: