With the help of a drill, I select the main volume, and then I work with hand grinders (various).
The distinguishing features of my carving technique is that I devote a lot of time to manual stone processing. Working with it requires maximum concentration, otherwise mistakes are inevitable and their elimination takes a lot of time and effort. The main law that I have deduced for myself is that stone does not tolerate negligence. But this reverent attitude towards the stone remained. At first I was afraid of the stone (afraid of damaging it), but with time it went away. It’s hard for me to talk about complexity, because when there are skills, everything seems simple. Nowadays it can still be used in a traditional way, like in the German school, but the current trend (a kind of a revolution in the area) is to use a rotating tool as a cutter. That is, both the stone and the tool are in a free position, making my work more convenient, whereas traditional carvers worked on stationary, rigidly fixed machines and tools. In addition, the fundamental difference from traditional carving is that I work with a rotating tool as if it were a chisel or a pencil. The only difference is that I use an electric drive instead of a foot or bow-shaped one.
I carve the same way it was done by the ancient carvers. The carving technique is a traditional thing rather than unique. Could you tell us in more detail what makes your technique unique? What makes it difficult? What are its distinguishing features? What to pay more attention to? It is one of the foundations in the study of his original course in the intaglio technique. An unusual combination of knowledge and skills in the fields of geology and jewelry craftsmanship open up new horizons: according to Vladimir, thanks to his work as a geologist, he learned to “hear” the stone, feel it and see its essence.
Right now he is an outstanding jewelry professional cooperating with the Tenzo Jewelry House. Vladimir Popovich is a truly unique person: in the past, he was a qualified mine geologist who traveled all over Russia on expeditions to search for ore, gold and precious stones.
We talked with him the other day and learned a lot of interesting things, both about the teacher himself and his carving technique. It will be conducted by Vladimir Popovich, an amazing person and a talented carver. The International Jewelry School launches a new course in intaglio carving technique on transparent stones.