Silverpoint Drawings

SILVERPOINT DRAWINGS

Since many people may not be familiar with silverpoint drawing, a short explanation might be helpful. Basically, it’s just drawing with pure silver. The tool I use is a piece of silver wire inserted into a mechanical pencil. In order for the silver to leave a mark, the drawing surface must be smooth and hard. The surface I use is a board painted with several layers of gesso and sanded until the surface is smooth enough and hard enough to receive the silver.

Unlike pencil, the silver mark is very limited in it’s tonal value. My technique for creating the range of tones is a series of over lapping cross-hatched marks. The darker the tone the more over lapping marks that are necessary. These marks can be seen by enlarging any of the drawings.

In time the silver will oxidize and give the drawing a warm, pleasant patina. Also, the finished drawing is archival, meaning it will last a very long time without fading or discoloring.

I hope you enjoy viewing my drawings as much as I enjoy creating them.

Please feel free to contact me if you’re interested in purchasing any of my drawings; or if you would like to commission me to do a piece for you, personally; or if you just have questions.

Email: tomhessel1@hotmail.com Phone: 612 991-2344

*Click on any image to enlarge. Click again to see detail.