About the Course
English Scroll Engraving
Compose, draw, and engrave English scrollwork — from basic cuts to a finished fine bouquet of flowers.
This course teaches English scroll composition, drawing, and engraving from the ground up: the basic cuts scrollwork is built from, the spirals and backbones that give a scroll its structure, and how to combine them into a complete, finished design. You'll finish outside work, shade interior leaves, cover scroll layout and design principles — including common mistakes to avoid — and close by composing and engraving an English fine bouquet of flowers to complement your scroll.
Class Details
Duration: 5 days (Monday–Friday)
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (one-hour lunch)
Class size: 4 students max
Prerequisite: Hand Engraving I and II
What's included: Tools provided for in-class use; materials and finished practice pieces are yours to keep
Skills You'll Gain
Cut teardrop, curved teardrop, double cuts, and cutting-into-the-line — the basic cuts scrollwork is built from
Cut spirals and backbones, the structural foundation of a scroll design
Combine basic cuts to fill out a complete scroll composition
Finish outside scroll work and shade interior leaves for a polished result
Apply English scroll layout and design principles, including common mistakes to avoid
Compose and engrave an English fine bouquet of flowers to complement a scroll design
Day-by-Day
Day 1 — Basic cuts: teardrop, curved teardrop, double cuts, and cutting into the line.
Day 2 — Spirals and backbones: cutting the structural spiral and backbone lines a scroll is built around.
Day 3 — Combining cuts: bring the basic cuts together to fill out a complete scroll design.
Day 4 — Finishing, shading, and layout: finish outside scroll work, shade interior leaves, and cover scroll layout and design — what works and what to avoid.
Day 5 — Capstone project: compose and engrave an English fine bouquet of flowers to complement your scroll design.
What This Class Doesn't Cover Western-style engraving (separate course), Bulino engraving, flare cutting, and lettering — each a distinct discipline covered in its own course.
What You'll Leave With A finished scroll design featuring combined basic cuts, finished outside work, shaded leaves, and an English fine bouquet of flowers.