This is my first attempt at silverpoint. I really like the richness and finesse of the line. However with this one, I don't think I used the silver marks to their best advantage. I used it like grahpite. I also didn't like the surface that I chose. It's Multi-Media Art board, (4"x4"), and I'm not sure why I don't like it.... it feels brittle, almost a plastic feel. I didn't like the texture of it and I should have toned the ground because I also didn't like the color of the white either.
Now, that said, I still think this is a good beginning and I now know what I DON'T like and none of it is the silverpoint. I am going to do this one as a larger work. I've got my surface (Strathmore 500 paper) already prepared with a toned ground (Golden Silverpoint Ground) ready to go after I get through doing a few more new miniatures.
Here is another one that I've started. It's on the Strathmore 500 paper, (4"x5") with a toned ground. I like the feel of this surface much better. I'm trying to use the silverpoint where the marks are done with more mindfulness. Sorry this is a rather dark and small image, and silverpoint is difficult to photograph and impossible to scan due to the marks being so reflective. I may continue to see if this one works.
7 comments:
Hi Barbara---the silverpoints (I am not very familiar with that technique) look great---they remind me of Chuckanut drive-have you and Wayne ever taken that drive?? I am going to look up some of our pictures that we have. :) Janie
Hi Janie, Thanks. I think they both are from parks up that way. Wayne and I went to the Farm Tour a couple of years ago in the fall and ended up at the Taylor Shellfish Farm on Chuckanut Dr where we sampled some oysters. Then we drove around and checked out a couple of parks. We love that area. I think I read where this rock is called chuckanut rock. Do you know if this, is true?
Hi Barbara-- I think that is true but not positive---I love it up there too---my parents used to take me there as a baby when they lived in Bellingham-- Janie
Love what you did with this silverpoint, even if you didn't enjoy the surface. Is it along the seashore and are the interesting formations coral?
I'd love to try silverpoint sometime myself, and am interested to hear more about Golden Silverpoint Ground. I can understand the frustrations with photography in silverpoint. I find pencil itself very tough to photo, esp. at certain times of day.
Thanks Mona. I had to do some searches to find out what it really is. The park is Larrabee State Park near Bellingham. The rock is sandstone and the formation is called tufoni. I loved the textures of all the rocks. The water is part of the sound.
I got my silver and holders from the link, Silverpoint Information and Supplies, on the right under Favorite Artists's Stites and Suppliers. The ground I got from Dick Blick. I could see eye portraits done in silverpoint!
Barbara- Wow, this looks great. I've been so busy I haven't been keeping up with what everyone is doing! Fabulous start- and it does take a bit of "learning" to find what you like to draw on. I found the same as you- I preferred the toned grounds.
I bought my first "Pen/pencil" (what do you call the thing?!) I finally found a pawnshop that did some jewelry work that had a much finer wire which I plan to use in a holder. They actually just gave me a piece! If you can find a jeweler you won't have to buy such a huge amount and it should be alot more reasonably priced.
That's great Carol, free is always nice. I guess it's just called metalpoint. Mine is in a mechanical penicl holder,two different sizes/shapes. I ordered them from the silverpoint.com site. I do not like the multimedia board at all. But the rag paper was fine, just the wrong tone for the ground! But I am learning and now all I need is more time!
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