Silverpoint
What is silverpoint?
Silverpoint is rendered by making marks with a silver or metal wire known as a stylus on a prepared ground. The terms silverpoint and metal point are often used interchangeably. Silverpoint is in the metal point medium category which includes any metal, such as silver, gold, copper, brass or any metal that will make a mark on prepared ground. The silverpoint technique came into prominent use during the late medieval era through the Renaissance. Artists of those eras often used silverpoint as studies for paintings, or as underdrawings of paintings. Chalk, ink, and metal point were the three mediums most often used for drawing and sketching before the pencil was invented.
To leave a mark, silverpoint must be rendered on a prepared ground. The prepared ground is applied to a substrate such as wood panels or paper. I like to use hot pressed watercolor paper for my substrate. The ground that I use is a ready to use dry mix ground based on Cennini’s 15th century ground recipe: Rublev Colours Traditional Silverpoint Ground, found at many art supply sites. The prepared ground gives the substrate “tooth”, enabling the metal to leave a mark when dragged across the ground. Today, silverpoint artists are experimenting and finding many new grounds and substrates to work on.
Silverpoint is a technique that requires a light hand to lay down the precise and delicate line work of a beautiful subtle rendering. Silverpoint is a technique of establishing tone, form, and value through many layers of linear marks. Hatching and cross hatching are techniques that work well in the silverpoint medium.
The beauty of silverpoint isn’t about the shine of the silver, but is about the subtlety of the medium and the transformation of the silverpoint drawing as it patinas over time.
I was drawn to the silverpoint technique for its delicate line work and subtle tonal range. I like the idea that when I am done with the silverpoint rendering, it will transition and change as the silver begins to patina.
