The bighorn has long captivated my attention: their power, resilience, and those horns that reflect every battle.

This style of hand-illustrated engraving has been around since the 1800s. A panel of Masonite is covered with white clay and a thin layer of black India ink. Using a small Xacto blade and mini-fiberglass brush, I carve through the black ink hair by hair, exposing variable degrees of the white clay beneath.

This highly-detailed 12x16” portrait is custom-framed with museum-quality glass, allowing for closer connection with the details of the engraving method and to avoid glare.

The 2”-wide matte-black solid wood frame has an elegant slope and clean lines, giving depth and drama to the original piece. Framed dimensions: 16x20”, with a protective paper backing and wire-hanger.

Original has “JKay” engraved at the bottom-right of the portrait; framed piece is hand-signed, titled and dated on the paper backing, and will arrive with a Certificate of Authenticity.

© Jennifer Kay, 2024