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Art is one of the most comprehensive subjects to discuss. It comes in different types, mediums, and processes. What makes art remarkable is how art explains emotions, thoughts, and principles. One of the rare forms of art is lapidary. It is a form of art that dwells on the tedious process and requires a good eye for detail. Reaching this post only means you’ve heard about it, and you want to know more.

In this article, we will briefly discuss what lapidary art is and what are the things that you need to know if you want to be a lapidary artist. It’s about time to engage in the mediums offered by nature. You definitely have to know more about its components and what makes it different from other forms of art. Since it is unusual, there is very limited information about it, but we made the explanations as direct to the point as possible.

Understanding Lapidary Art

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Lapidary is the art of cutting, engraving, and polishing any type of stone. Processes stone undergoes to see the beauty from within is already called lapidary art. It is also defined as the creation of small objects using gem as their medium. The primary medium of lapidary art is one of Earth’s natural composition, which is stone. If you have an eye for detail, this field sure is for you. All you need are the right classes, mentors, perspectives, and tools. It’s definitely something worth the while.

The stones that are cut graved and polished are usually used for jewelry, interior pieces, luxury design to clothing, and even for display. The job of a lapidary artist is to see the beauty in stones and transform them into remarkable polished pieces with ridiculously fine details. A good eye is one of the requirements because as a professional, you ought to transform earth-crusted stones into different art pieces that will surely look luxurious

4 Types of Lapidary Art

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Lapidary art is all about the discovery of different stone and gem-related mediums. In this section, we will help you understand the four types of lapidary art. Read on and know more about the features of each.

Cabbing

Another interesting type of lapidary art is cabbing. It is also known as cabochon cutting, where they use cabs or gems as their medium. They cut the cabs with a flat bottom and a curved top. They are cut, carved, and polished to perfection and are often used in making jewelry. Gems such as opal and turquoise are the famous ones undergoing the process of cabbing due to its features and characteristics. This is one of the forms of lapidary art that can do both works for businesses and personal hobbies.

Carving

Of all the types of lapidary arts, the carving is the most crucial. Each gem or stone has definite limits on how much or how deep you can carve. If you have a very light grip and an eye for micro details, maybe carving is something that you should try. The process may seem to be a challenge, but the output sure is worth it.

Faceting

Faceting is one of the most profitable forms of lapidary arts. It is the process of cutting, carving, and polishing gems and stones and turning it into jewelry. What makes it different from other lapidary art forms? They are geometrically arranged.

The best example would be diamonds in engagement rings. There are different cuts or facets to choose from, depending on your preference. Faceting is famous because it brings out the beauty of gems as well as its natural shine.

Tumbling

Tumbling is the most common and simplest form or type of lapidary. This is actually highly recommended for beginners. With the help of a few precision tools and gemstone, you can turn stones into gift pieces your loved ones will surely love. How simple is Tumbling? Even kids can do it. It’s actually fun to do if you’re a fan of rock collections. Tumbling can be both a hobby and a business.

4 Things to Know if You Want to be a Lapidary Artist

We have four giveaway tips if you want to be a lapidary artist. It’s enough to just get acquainted with the mediums and processes, and you have to experience it first hand. These days, there are a lot of opportunities for the lapidary art. All you need to do is be creative in looking, gain experience, and study more about the processes. We hope these four tips will help you pursue your passion for lapidary art.

Check Out Different Lapidary Demonstrators

Lapidary demonstrators are often found in classes or in tutorials in different museums and workshops. They demonstrate the different techniques and tips that you have to remember when you’re already doing it on your own. Check out their shows, and it would be best to ask questions that will help you understand more about lapidary art.

Look for Reputable Dealers

What we meant by dealers are the dealers for stones and equipment. When you have your own dealer, you can get pieces of stone and equipment at a very affordable price. Two to three different dealers are fine, so you can juggle with the mediums they offer. Some dealers also sell the pieces they make, whether it’s jewelry or for design. It’s relatively cheaper compared to the price sold in malls.

Seek for Display Cases

To gain inspiration, you can seek for different display cases. They usually exhibit finished lapidary art. These pieces are often judged and awarded accordingly with the piece with the finest and remarkable design. They also award these display pieces for future references of jewelers and such.

Join Clubs or Classes

If you’re really determined to engage in lapidary art and you don’t know where to start, it would be best to join clubs and to enroll in classes. They offer a variety of courses concerning lapidary art that will help you choose which type suits you best. Moreover, they exhibit the process of how to do lapidary art from stone to jewelry. This is preferable if your goal is to start your own business.

Conclusion

Lapidary arts are as interesting as other forms of art present. What makes it even more interesting is the challenge with the process gems, and stones undergo to come up with remarkable pieces. More than just to make a profit out of it, lapidary art is one exemplary hobby that you can do if you’re a fan of picking up rocks and gems along the shore of the beach. With these types of lapidary arts and tips, we do hope you already have your inspiration to pursue it. This is the next level of art that will surely fill your pockets once you manage to do interesting pieces.