Metalpoint - Page 3 - Drawing Styli or Implements

Basic drawing implements for working in metalpoint are easy to find, or if purchased, very economical to buy.  Metal points last through hundreds of drawings.  Probably any metal would work on the right surface, but the most common metals used are silver, gold, copper, platinum, and perhaps aluminum.

Below are some examples of drawing implements that I used from items I had in the house:

From left to right:  Two vintage Alvin lead holders.  Each holds size 2 mm leads.  One has copper wire in it, and one has aluminum armature wire in it.  Next is a crowquill pen holder with a thinner copper wire in it.  I taped it in place because the wire is much thinner than the hole for a pen nib.  Next, a vintage steel knitting needle.  In the small grouping of items there is a pewter rabbit, a gold heart pendant, a Sterling silver earring, and a brass bracelet.  The last is of course, the large silver spoon.  All of these may be used to draw with on a prepared surface.

Below are two more examples; Aluminum armature wire that I had for use in sculpture and a copper wire I originally had purchased for work with my bonsai trees.

As already stated on the paper preparation page, if you want to purchase a tip and holder, currently I have found two websites that offer silver tips:  Silverpoint.com and Natural Pigments. 

Shown below are jewelry wires that I purchased specifically for metalpoint work.  I purchased a foot of 99.9999 % pure Fine silver wire (12 gauge, about 2 mm thick), Sterling silver wire (Sterling is 99.925% silver with copper making up the most of the rest of the alloy) (19 gauge, about 0.9 mm thick for use in a standard mechanical pencil), and 12k gold-filled wire (18 gauge, also for use in a standard mechanical pencil).  Gold-filled wire is made up by bonding the gold around a core of another metal (brass in the wire I purchased).  That is different from gold-plated, which is applying a layer of gold electro-statically onto another metal core.  I'm not sure there would be a difference in the way these two gold wires act in metalpoint work, but I felt the gold-filled wire would eventually wear down to the brass, and I can just continue to use that as a point.

99.9999% pure silver wire (more pure than what is usually sold as "Fine" quality which is 99.999% pure

Gold-filled and Sterling silver wires

Below is a photo of how I made some simple holders to hold the jewelry wire or other thin wires.  Using a 1/8 inch dowel, cut to about pencil-length, I drilled a hole in the center of one end.  I then glued a piece of my wire into the hole.  I had all of these items available, but purchasing them would have cost mere pennies.  :)  To shape the point, I use an "Arkansas Stone" (in the grade "hard").  These stones are available for shaping or polishing pen nibs.  I followed up by polishing the point with wet / dry sandpaper in a 1000 grit grade (shown underneath the other items).

Here is a link you might find helpful if looking to purchase jewelry wire for use in metalpoint work:

Atlas Nova . com - supplier of 99.9999% pure silver wire (not 99.999%)

If you do an online image search for work done in metalpoint, you will find examples of older drawings that show the different colorizations of the oxidized metals used.  Goldpoint has obvious yellows and is very beautiful whether used alone in a drawing or as a highlight.

In other methods of drawing or painting, the tool used (paint, colored pencil, etc.) usually has color as part of its make-up.  It is the same with metalpoint, each metal will have both a tonal and color element that it imparts to the drawing.

From spoons to expensive pure gold, a wide range of metals is available for use in drawing.

A word of CAUTION - Metals are, well, metals.  Repeated use of them will have an effect on the body.  You may want to wear gloves, make sure you do not inhale metal dust when working or finishing points, etc.  One website mentioned above also sells a kit for what is called "colloidal silver" which is a liquid silver suspension.  I personally do not endorse its use.  Do your research! about any metal you plan on using long-term.  A disease that can result from silver exposure is shown here: Argyria

As with any natural pigment, mineral or metal, make sure you are aware of what you are using and its potential effects.