Experiments with Silverpoint....

[Printmakerguy]

I've been playing with something new (for me, anyways!)- Sliverpoint. Here is my first feeble attempt at it-



The image is about 2" high, on 4 x 6 panel. It will darken as it ages- Remember, that is silver, and it will tarnish!

Silverpoint is something that I have always wanted to try out. I have been curious about it since I first looked at some of the old masters drawings that were done with it... Da Vinci, especially. They are simply incredible drawings.

I researched it a bit, and found that there aren't all that many people doing it any more, relatively speaking. It certainly isn't something that you can walk to the local art supply store and get the 'stuff' to do it. But, I FINALLY got around to trying it- And I am hooked!

In my experimentation, I have learned a LOT. To work with it, I had to totally change my 'style' of drawing- You can't blend. Tones are built up by layer after layer of hatching. Through experimenting, I found that I could get what appeared to be a blended tone with really fine hatching, in several directions. It is a SLOW process, though. VERY slow.

Here is a greatly magnified closeup, to show what I am talking about-


The biggest drawback to working with it is that you can't erase. The silver actually embeds itself in the ground that you are working on, and doesn't come out. You can use sandpaper to remove the silver, but that also takes some ground with it as well, so you have to be VERY careful... You also can't go back in later with an eraser to lighten areas up- Once you go dark, there is no return! This is a bit intimidating!

I will also NEVER complain about scanning or photographing Graphite again! Remember, this is silver- and it reflects light. This is what happens when you try to photograph it-



Scanning isn't much better... But I made some adjustments, And FINALLY got it close!

I still have a lot to learn- Especially about how the drawing will 'age'. One of the interesting things about Silverpoint is that the drawing will darken and 'patina' when it is exposed to the atmosphere- It'll be interesting to see how much and how quickly it does so.

Of course, I welcome any C&C that anyone has. I realize that this is hardly a masterpiece, just a quick (well, quick for silverpoint, that is- It took FOREVER!) study, to see what I could do with the medium...

-Andrew

[wandathefish]

This is gorgeous. I can only imagine how much patience this takes and no mistakes allowed?! I think I'll have to stick to charcoal, lol! Thanks for close-up.

[Shehaub]

Love it!

It looks great both close up and from a distance. I think the reflective quality is what makes it so beautiful and so different from other drawing materials. I would love to see this in person.

[Sandiclaus]

Feeble?!? Hardly.... I don't think I could handle anything that does not allow erasing

Sandi

[tvandeb]

Andrew: Very nice!!!!! I have just started learning silverpoint.. What kind of paper did you use, and what type of ground? I use watercolor paper-heavy paper, and gesso it about 4 times; still playing around with it. Its not an easy medium. Like you said it does'nt erase, kinda like pen and ink.
Have you tryed it on Dura-lar?
Nicework here ... Would like more info... Thanks.. Take care..

[ChristyH]

wow! I have never heard of silverpoint. How interesting. You've done a beautiful job on this. I would get so frustrated with not being able to erase anything.

[Geoff]

For a 'feeble' attempt, that eye is truely incredible in its detail and rendition.
Are you actually using silver - or a piece of lead/solder?

[mom x 4]

I don't know if I could draw without being able to erase; what a scary thought! This is very cool, Andrew, especially the amount of detail you put into it. WOW!

[gourdburner]

Been watching these metal point threads with interest lately. I might have to give this technique a try. It looks really interesting. Thanks for the tips.

[Reinhard1]

-andrew, truly great. I beg to differ however about that 'not erasing' part. If I try metalpoint on watercolour paper, circling with the bevelled side, I can definitely erase the marks. Give it a try. Just don't draw with the 'sharp' edge but circle with the bevelled side.

Another possibility with silverpoint, as I am finding out and experiment with at the very moment, is 'blending with silverpoint' in graphite. It gives me the possibility to blend in very small areas and have very smooth transitions. Plus, since it is so SLOOW in making its mark on the paper, I can bring in those slightly dárker areas in skin texture I am admiring so much in Armin's drawings and am not able to repeat only in graphite.

To those who are interested, IT DOES TAKE TIME. Does it ever!

p.s. If you wanted to give silverpoint a try with paper, please keep in mind, the smoother and the glossier the paper, the better.

[heavyiron]

I've found the ability to erase/blend depends on the ground used. I have experimented with silverpoint and tried several different grounds..some will erase to some degree (nothing like graphite) and others will not. I was even able to blend with a stump...a little anyway with one ground. As for copper point, I just use regular old electrical wire with the insulation stripped off. Two websites that sell silverpoint type stuff....
www.studioproducts.com
www.silverpointweb.com (has lots of info on silverpoint)

Brad

[jlukach]

Wow Andrew another fun experiment. This looks really good even if it must seem huge to you. I think that the close-up shows how your experience with mini drawing has paid off. The incredibly fine lines you are using could never come from an Olaf like me. Like what you're doing a lot.

Jim

[chaz]

Interesting and very beautiful Andrew. I'm curious also about what time will do to the image.

I just visited Hearne fine art that had a display by Marjorie Williams-Smith of her copperpoint and silver point drawings. Incredibly beautiful. Would like to try that myself. Need to find a thick copper wire I guess. Maybe worth a try.

Chuck

[Printmakerguy]

Thanks, Wanda...

Shehaub- Thanks, It is very interesting in person! Now that I have seen how it really looks, I would REALLY Like to see some of DaVinci's actual work- I can only imagine what it must look like IRL...

Sandi- Not being able to correct things easily kind of 'spooked' me at first, too- But it is worth it!

Tammy- This is done on Prepared panel- Gessoed masonite. I sanded it smooth, all the way down to 1000 grit...

Christy- Silverpoint has been around for a LONG time, but it isn't too common any more!

Thanks, Geoff.... This is .925 (Sterling) wire, half hard... I have some soft .9999 wire on the way to experiment with- should be interesting to compare the two!

Lu- Thanks!

Debbie- Give it a shot- It's certainly not for everyone, but I have enjoyed it!

Reinhard- I have not been happy with the trials I did on paper- I just couldn't get it as dark as I wanted... Thanks for the tip on erasing, though- I'll have to give it a shot. I have done a bit of scribbling on sanded pastel paper- which works OK... I like the gesso ground the best so far, though- I am able to get a lot darker!


Brad-Thanks for the links- I had seen silverpointweb, but not the other...

Jim- I think that working as small as I have been in the past is both a blessing and a curse! I tend to get equally detailed on larger ones that I do on the tiny ones... It takes a LOT of patience to build up all the layers with the silverpoint, but since it is so slow, it makes it easier to think about where you are going with things!

Chuck- I just checked out her work- Nice! I'm going to try copper soon, too... Then, perhaps GOLD

I think that the next step is a complete drawing... Wish me luck!

-Andrew

[Printmakerguy]

If there is any interest, I am willing to offer up some Silverpoints to people- I have enough sterling to last me more than a lifetime at the moment... I would just ask that you paypal me enough to defray postage... You'd just have to supply your own 0.9mm mechanical pencil to hold it, and you'd be set! I'd love to get a few people playing with this so we could compare notes...

-Andrew