Silverpoint- anyone ever do it? Know anything? Help!!!

brushandknife · #1 02-02-2009, 03:50 PM

I think I remember seeing someone post a "how-to" on this somewhere here. I just did my first piece, a miniature, maybe 2"x3" approx. A bit of colored pencil added. But as you can see the ground of gesso is making it very "lined" and streaky. I did sand, but it didn't seem to help enough obviously. Any suggestions? Thanks much. Been a long time since I posted here, mostly painting and minis these days. Do drop in and look now and again as I love to look at drawings, especially if they are in sketchbooks!
Carol

***Deirdre*** · #2 02-02-2009, 04:45 PM

It's a beautiful drawing Carol, well done! As for silverpoint, I did a search in the forum...here is the result!

river rat · #3 02-02-2009, 06:01 PM

Gesso grounds work but as you've found out it's hard to get a really smooth surface. Try using gouache, either zinc white or chinese white. Much easier to get a smooth surface and it works just about as well for a silverpoint ground.

jeniart · #4 02-02-2009, 06:14 PM

Never used gesso - but somehow don't think it works well with cp's. I always use Fabriano Classico which you can't get anymore or Rising Stonehenge if that helps. Certainly gives a different texture tho - nice job.

yorkhorse · #5 02-02-2009, 07:17 PM

That is a beautiful rooster. I actually like the texture for it. Kind of makes it 'wooden' looking.

brushandknife · #6 02-02-2009, 09:39 PM

Deirdre, when I clicked on the link it said "Sorry, no matches!" I'll try to do a search when I have more time, but whenever I do that I end up with all sorts of "links" which have the word in them and do me no good so I get very frustrated. Don't know if I'm doing it wrong or what, but at any rate it's worth a try. Thanks everyone for the comments. Yorkhorse, the minis are very critical about looking "correct" under magnification/enlargement. This would never do I'm afraid in a show. But for my first try I was not too unhappy. Have to start somewhere. :-) I'll try the gouache ground, altho I would like to have something a bit more permanent. There is also a ground by Golden for silverpoint, but I hated to invest more if I can use what I already have and I have a TON of gesso which at this point I'm not even using!
Carol

Bright Eyes · #7 02-02-2009, 11:23 PM

I looked around for silverpoint info a few months ago. The Artist Magazine had a good article and demo on it in the August issue(I think, may be a different month). This website it the best I've found. Actually one of the only really good resources on it. And they sell all the supplies needed from their site.
http://www.silverpointweb.com/index.html

Hope this helps

**Printmakerguy** · #8 02-03-2009, 10:11 AM

Carol-

Though I answered you before elsewhere, I'll post here, too- For the benefit of WC members.

I do some silverpoint work- And REALLY like it. The Gesso grounds are OK, but there are others out there that are a LOT better. Golden Acrylic makes a ground specifically for silverpoint that is excellent- You paint it on a surface like hot press watercolor paper, let it dry overnight, then paint away. It is GREAT stuff.

You could get the Gesso ground to work for you, if you sanded it a bit more. I have sanded gessoed panels down until they were VERY smooth, usually you'll need to apply it a little thicker.

Here are some of my old silverpoint threads-

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445811

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...ht=silverpoint

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...ht=silverpoint

This is a WetCanvas Article about it-
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/9137/423/

The http://www.Silverpointweb.com link mentioned previously is also a great resource!

-Andrew

brushandknife · #9 02-03-2009, 11:31 AM

Andrew, you have been sooo helpful. Thank you so much.
Carol

GhettoDaveyHavok · #10 02-03-2009, 12:54 PM

I know nothing about gesso. Yet, I think the streak made it look very awesome in my opinion. Can't explain, but it looks dope that way.

Good work on the rooster.

Or is it a hen? XD No jk.

heavyiron · #11 02-03-2009, 02:06 PM

I've used gesso on paper several times without streaks. I add water to the gesso to thin it out a bit...the resulting surface allows gradual buildup of the silver which I like. The specific grounds from studio products and golden work well too.

brushandknife · #12 02-04-2009, 10:13 AM

Yes, Crystal it is a rooster. :-) Not sure what you mean about "looking dope", but I think thank you?! Hope you don't mean me!
Heavyiron, I did use a bit of water on my second one, but not too much. I thought about getting the Golden (didn't know about studio products- is that the brand?) but I have a ton of gesso which I'm not using at the moment so would like to use that. I'm getting the hang of it. Do you have any silverpoint work that you could post? Would love to see it.
Carol

Bright Eyes · #13 02-04-2009, 10:46 AM

I was reading "The Practice of Tempera Painting" last night. It has some really good information on silverpoint. Goes into detail on how to prepare the grounds, how to use it and so on. Very informative.

river rat · #14 02-04-2009, 11:13 AM

Carol, there are quite a few silverpoints on my blog if you're interested.

brushandknife · #15 02-04-2009, 08:42 PM

Thanks much Kimberly, I'll have to see if I can find that. Most definitely interested Kobi. Thanks, I'm going there now!
Carol

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