IAMPETH 2026 - Stone Letter Cutting - Paul Herrera

ALL SKILL LEVELS | LETTERCARVING

This is a course on letter cutting in stone. No previous experience required. The student will be provided with a slate that is fully prepared for inscription cutting. Class instructions will guide the participant through the letter cutting process to include the proper chisel and mallet grip. Depending on time allowed, the entire step-by-step process from a painted design on a properly prepared stone surface to a finished, colorized work of art will be explained as follows: beginning with a transferred image on a prepared stone, we learn manipulation, tools and their care, understanding slate structure, stone surface preparation, understanding rough cut vs finished cut, first cuts with mallet and chisel, making a proper rubbing for quality check, and painting or gilding the finished cut.

CLASS SUPPLIES

• Small dust brush,
• a ballpoint pen to trace the design from paper to the stone,
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White,
• #1 round ferrule pointed brush, portable LED lamp,
• letter carving dummy*, and 10mm carbide-tipped letter cutting chisel*. *Available from Johnnealbooks.com

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES

• Paul will provide one piece of slate, transfer paper, mallet and chisel to loan during class, rubber table mat, stick graphite, and multipurpose paper for rubbing.