DOING REPOUSSE:

1. To line steel, hold the tool vertical to the work surface and hammer straight down on the butt end of the tool. Observe the depth and if suitable, move the tool a partial face width down the line and hit it again. Keep overlapping your marks to avoid a dotted line effect. With a little practice you can chase a continuous even line to the desired depth. Your work should be secured with tape to the lead block which yields to the blows thus allowing the sheet to be formed. After completing a line around part of your pattern the area inside will appear "puffed" as will the surrounding sheet.



2. To flat your background, go around the outside of your lines with a flatter so that the "puff" on the outside of the line is hammered back down flat. Start next to the edge of the line and work outwards until you are happy with the background. This step is done on a surface plate of steel. Avoid hitting too hard or you will stretch the metal and warp the work. Hit the puff just hard enough to bend it with out thinning it too much. Flatting is done as needed. You do not need to do the entire background, just remove the bumps you don't want for now.



3. Turn your sheet over and tape it to a flat lead block. Use a liner to chase the middle or centers of your pattern from the back side of your sheet. Make even lines varying the depth gradually so that the line is a bit deeper in the center than at the ends. This will create an arched relief on the front. Experiment! When finished the front will have high relief over the entire surface of the pattern on a flat background. Three point repousse automatically makes peaked relief and is easy to do. However, if you want more modeling in terms of varied heights you must use a dapper.



4. To dap an area, you follow the center line of your pattern on the back as you would with a liner. After completing the line, check the front to see if the desired effect is there. If not, then work the tool at an angle on either side of center and recheck. Use finesse to avoid making a warty surface on the front. Experiment!

This is a good thing. Tool making is what separates us from our hairy brethren who swing from the trees.