It took many many hours. Silverpoint is a very challenging medium, but i am pleased with the results. i can't wait for the silver to oxidize and darken. This photo is slightly deceptive, as the value of the silver is pretty light right now, probably akin to the result of a 2H or 4H graphite pencil, but it should darken up with time and i estimate will look probably like it does in this photo.
The assignment was to first make a master copy. i chose Leonardo da Vinci's "Antique Warrior". We were required to make the copy in the same size and medium as the original. For the second part, we were to create an original drawing in the same size and medium, utilizing the master artist's style.
i wanted to create a juxtaposition and a reflection between the two soldiers and create an implicit dialogue about the history of warfare, and place the emphasis on the individual man participating.
"The War Machine"
diptych
approx. 16" x 11" total
silverpoint on prepared paper
copyright Jennifer A. Krause 2009
A note on silverpoint: essentially this technique predates the pencil. It was used in da Vinci's time quite a bit. One uses a fine silver (about .999) wire, (i used a 12 gauge wire) that is cut into a short length and filed and sanded to a point, but rounded like a pencil tip. This is also a polished point in order to prevent actually scratching. The tip should be smooth.
This is placed in a lead holder (not unlike a mechanical pencil) and the point is used to draw. The surface must be prepared with some sort of ground or gesso that will allow the silver to deposit onto its surface. In da Vinci's time, i believe they used a mixture with ground bones. i used Golden brand silverpoint ground medium on a very fine 300lb hot press watercolor paper that was mounted to board for stiffness.
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