5" x 7" miniature scale (1/6th of life size) silverpoint, graphite, & egg tempera work in progress on blue-toned gessoed panel (click on the image to see it at its actual size)
I still have a little work to go on this drawing, a miniature scale small work, but wanted to post it in progress, since it is an example of how nicely egg tempera combines with silverpoint. This is my first try at silverpoint, a method of drawing with silver which produces finer lines than are possible with pencil, which tarnish and darken over time. Silverpoint was utilized by the old masters for preliminary drawings for egg tempera or oil paintings. Modern acrylic-based silverpoint ground can also be great to apply to the surface and draw on, as one of my next miniatures will demonstrate, but in order to include egg tempera, I drew this one on another great surface for silverpoint: true gesso panel.
This drawing is mostly silverpoint with graphite applied in the darkest areas, with soft highlights in white egg tempera. If questions arise, my upcoming Egg Tempera Workshop is a great place for solutions about mixed media with egg tempera too. I was inspired to try silverpoint by two of my friends and colleagues in art, Koo Schadler, and Barbara Freeman . Please take a moment to see their beautiful work in silverpoint.
7 comments:
Thanks Mona for the link! I know what you mean about not always having the time to comment. It's so hard to keep up with all the social networking and still have time to create! This is a beautiful way to use silverpoint. I love the white egg tempera highlights. I'll be watching this.
Thank you for understanding Barbara!
Mona,
Very interesting. Can't wait to see more!
This is looking stunning already Mona and what a fascinating combination of mediums. Can't wait to see the end product!!! :)
Mona, I learn something new almost every time I visit your blog! How interesting! You know I love mixing media. I know you've mentioned wanting to try silverpoint before...what a wonderful job you are doing on your very first try, too. I didn't know the old masters used it in conjunction with the egg tempera. You've got me yearning to do some more in gouache, which I find a nice blend of the great properties of acrylic as well as the egg tempera. I bet that would work nicely with the silverpoint as well. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing the process and explaining the technique.
Hi Mona,
I like your silverpoint work, and have often wanted to try it out myself. How does it differ from pencil? I'm hoping to come to Florida next January - that is if Englishmen are still welcome (BP!!!). Love trom Bill
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