Silverpont

rawing with silver or other metals goes back quite a ways in art history. There is a bit of a process required for a successful drawing. The method of drawing is the same as regular drawing but the tools are different. First, the paper has to be prepared to take the metal. I have a small piece of silver that fits into a pencil holder.

The way I use color in a silver point drawing is a little different than in a graphite drawing. I use pastel dust. I will scrape off a little of the pastel color onto a sand paper block. When I have a fair amount of dust collected I load the dust on an inexpensive and fairly stiffly brush. I apply the dust to the drawing with the brush, building it up until I have the intensity of color I want.

What I like about my silver point pieces is the ethereal quality they have. I love the tone that the silver gives. Overtime I hope the silver will get a patina that adds even more dimension to my work. I look forward to trying different metals to see what they offer.