Drawing with Silver Point
Have you ever heard of Silver point?
Yes?
Cool....then you probably don't need to watch this video....aww...but please stay, anyway.
No?
Well, you are in for a treat!
Imagine a magical pencil; one that almost never needs sharpening, is smudge proof, gives an amazing subtle smoky appearance, is poorly understood by a great many artists out there, sounds cool on the little info card for a piece, and gives you a connection with the old masters that boring old pencil work never can.
What is silver point?
Well....it's silver....filed down to a point.
Many pure metals will work (pure metal only, not alloys), but silver is my favourite. Grab a stick from a jeweller, gesso a surface, and get to work.
Silver point will not work on regular paper, it has to be applied to a specially prepared surface. As a general rule of thumb, anything that is coated in paint is a good surface for silver point.
Graphite is a relatively new medium, so many of the old masters used silver point. if your work doesn't look as good as theirs, don't lose hope. The silver changes very slowly, darkening through the ages, acquiring a magical, smoky appearance.
So pick up a stick of silver and get sketching!
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Kyle Clements
2010
cc-by-nc-sa
http://www.kyleclements.com