Featured Artist Steve Lankerd Sr.

Scrimshaw Designs

"In 1996 I purchased my Paragraver with the thought in mind that my permanent job at the sawmill was not going to last much longer. At various times I would buy different books and videos from Dr Lew on projects to try and learn all I could in using this new little air tool.   One video that stuck in my mind was one on scrimshaw.  Being from the east coast, Connecticut in particular, I was exposed to that art from an early age.  Mystic Village was nearby and I remember making frequent trips to the old whaling Seaport for school projects.  This art of scratching ivory and darkening the lines has always fascinated me so the closest thing that I got involved at the time was pen and ink drawings."

"The sawmill shut down for good in February of 2000 so I needed to find another line of work, so I tried my hand at making ivory ear rings and necklaces with Alaskan wildlife scratched and carved on them as well as engraving glass, metal and wood.  April of 2002 brought me to Utah to take a most memorable class in gunstock carving from Craig Hone.  Both Craig and Keith are some of the best teachers and most hospitable people I have ever known.  While I was there, I saw some of Craig's scrimshaw where I was inspired by his work. In the past year, another gentleman by the name of Bob Hergert from Port Orford Oregon has also influenced me with a stippling technique using hundreds if not thousands of dots to make a picture. 
 
After gathering information from everyone and combining different techniques of fine line and stippling, I am trying to form a style of my own.  This past spring when showing some of my scrimshaw to an owner of an art gallery in Ketchikan Alaska, they accepted every piece and wanted all that I could produce.  This is just the start of a promising career into scrimshaw, with each piece getting better and striving to perfect many different techniques.  There is always so much more to learn, I guess that's the exciting part of being an artist. 
 
I have to thank Dr Lew for taking the time and effort in developing this idea of a dental drill to create art.  His vision in a tool and the concept of proper business practices in using it will always have me thanking him every time I create something.... Thanks Dr Lew."

Steve Lankerd Sr.

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