Metalpoint and Preparation

Overview

Silverpoint, also referred to as metalpoint, is an ancient method of drawing that was used for the most part, prior to the "invention" of graphite pencils.  The history of silverpoint drawing and the artists most famous for using it may be easily found online.  For the purposes of this page, a brief explanation of silverpoint is the use of a pure silver stylus point making marks on paper or other prepared ground.

I remember a moment when I was fiddling with a paper clip and noticed that it made a mark on whatever paper I attached it to.  I noticed it because the marks made the papers look "messy" from the mark.  In fact, I can even remember "doodling" with the ends of paperclips in school.

Recently I wrote two pages that address the vocation of being an artist in a poor economy, titled "What Do I Really Need" and "Drawing With Wax Crayon".  These two pages explain methods of drawing that enable any artist to continue to work while struggling with finances, either in graphite or in wax crayon, the basis of both being drawing skills. The third choice I would include in this group of methods is silverpoint.  It is perhaps the top end of an inexpensive way to achieve fine art.

A few months ago, I was looking through the products at one of my favorite vendors, Natural Pigments, and noticed their header on Silverpoint products.  At the time, I was buying pigment, and didn't want to invest in more than I needed, so thought I would explore silverpoint later on.

More recently,  I was looking for the best way to depict some natural subjects, animals, plants, etc., without using my standard method of pen and ink stippling.  I was looking for a sophisticated, yet somewhat "dreamy" effect that my color stippling would have shown in too direct a manner.  I explored the idea of graphite, but for permanent drawings, I do not like how it smudges, and do not like to apply fixatives to finished pieces.  Color pencil is closer to the effect I was looking for, but the color gets in the way to some extent, drawing the viewer away from the metaphysical aspect of the subject, and toward the application of color and the skill (or lack of it) of the artist.  Hmmmm.

So, I did an image search online to see how others achieved what I was trying to do and again found silverpoint.  The paperclips I used to doodle with were telling me something.

Metal will make permanent marks on certain surfaces.  Soft metals especially, leave deposits of their "atoms" as it were, on these surfaces.  The marks are permanent, can not be erased, and will react to the environment over time.

Most commonly used in metalpoint work is pure silver.  Gold, copper, aluminum, and platinum are also used, each having distinct reactions as they oxidize.

Metalpoint, or more specifically, silverpoint,  seems to be the right tool that I have been looking for.  Its use follows my personal requirement that my tools must be fairly inexpensive (following along the lines of the two above-mentioned pages), the resulting work must be permanent, and the application or use must be fairly simple.  Silverpoint meets all of those needs, as well as bringing a unique quality of ethereal history, a continuation of art for the sake of art, following in the footsteps of many of the great Masters of art.

The basic requirements for metalpoint or silverpoint are a metal stylus or point to draw with, prepared paper or prepared paper mounted to a board or other substrate, and time.

"Sinningia 'Mini Sinn' ", pen and ink, (c) laeom

In July and August, I found I might become homeless.  This was a shocking, unexpected experience that was initiated by a decision by my landlord, and made worse by the limited availability of apartments in my area.  In the months since then, I have gone through several changes regarding the Quilts For Veterans.

I found I might actually end up in a homeless shelter, which was a terrifying way to learn how many of our Veterans have to survive.  The local homeless shelter told me that I would only be allowed to bring in a medium-sized bag, and planning for that brought about my Hankie Quilts (c) and my Tarp Totes (c), both items designed for my ability to quilt while "on the road", and the Tarp Tote (c) reflecting a medium-sized bag.  Videos regarding the Tarp Tote (c) can be seen at this Playlist .

Because I was facing putting all my belongings in storage, I had to make some very difficult decisions about my sewing machines.  I had to sell two of my father's machines, and one of my brothers took another of my father's machines.  That knocked the wind out of my sails a bit.  Just after selling them, I found out through my lawyer that I would be able to stay here after all through the remainder of my lease.  However, I do still have to find a smaller apartment, and some of my remaining sewing machines may also need to go in storage.  What was a common thread through all of this was trying to make a quality quilt for a Veteran no matter what my circumstances are.

I have donated two traditional-looking quilts to Veterans and am finishing the hand-quilting on a third, I have completed one Tarp Tote (c), and just have to stitch the shawl-lap quilt for the second Tarp Tote (c).  They became shawls or lap quilts and will be given to Veterans through my local Senior Center.

I have continued to get my belongings ready to be stored, and have deliberated a great deal over where my sewing machines will be.  I am "Living In One Room", paring down to bare necessities in the expectation of moving to a studio apartment.  I have several of my machines, 17 in total, but have a 1959 Singer Spartan handcrank and a 1937 Singer model 15-88 treadle set up for use.  I will be making my newly designed "Hello" quilts for Veterans.  The video for the "Hello" quilt can be seen here .

While facing homelessness, and knowing I would only have a medium-sized bag, I realized many homeless people, homeless Veterans, have little interaction with family.  The "Hello" quilt was at first going to be called "Never Alone", based on a painting I did several years ago of two trees, showing how each of us is never alone. "Hello" suits it better because we cannot replace a Veterans family, but we can say hello, we can try to help.

Because of this experience, my Quilts For Veterans will now be wholly focused on homeless Veterans.  As such, they won't be as traditional looking, will be what is called "rag quilts".  I had been told that homeless Vets would ruin my quilts because of the rough life they lead.  A rag-style quilt will be more suited to that rough life. It also is more suited to my limited space, as I can sew each square by hand or by small machine.  My father was never homeless, but in today's society, any one of us could face homelessness.  I believe my father, who served in the Korean War, would be proud to have me helping out homeless Vets with a quilt, not only to say thank you for their Service, but to not leave out the homeless Veterans simply because they lead a rough life.  The experience of almost being homeless affected me to such a point that I will never be the same.  At any minute, a landlord can make a decision that can put one on the street.  The empathy and fear I now feel both for myself and for the homeless will never leave me.

Since facing homelessness in the summer months, I have continued to "downsize".  Although I can stay in this apartment through the remainder of my lease, my next apartment will be smaller, probably a studio apartment, and I am literally "living in one room" in order to decide just what I need to take to a new apartment.  I have been doing some videos of this, and they can be seen at this Playlist .

Currently, I have two sewing machines available for use in my "one room", and the other 15 either packed or about to be packed. Today I set up a garment rack - and it will be my "closet".  It changes the room completely because I feel like I am living in an over-sized closet.  :)  The video of my garment rack is here .

Another item I purchased was a foldable scooter - and I have to say, it is fun to ride.  Because it takes up so little space, if I have to move my bikes into storage, I will still have a scooter, which is faster than walking.

This entire experience has been both very difficult and very rewarding.  It is actually comforting to have everything in one room, to have what I use daily in my one space.  I will continue to post here as I refine my one room.

Below is a photo of two items I am working on.  On the top is a piece of my hand-woven fabric made with hand-spun cotton.  Underneath that are the final squares to be quilted for the Hankie Quilt(c) I am finishing.

As I complete projects, and because I currently have a spare, empty room, I am able to continue to choose which belongings I keep in my one main room for living.  I have been doing this in preparation for living in a studio apartment.

I am working on a few oil paintings currently.  Three of them are of the three Archangels: Saint Michael, Saint Raphael, and Saint Gabriel.  I have done underpaintings in black and white acrylics (see photo below), and am now working over the acrylic in oils.


                                                           

When I went to college for a horticulture degree, one of the projects that had to be completed was to make a book or binder that identified 500 different types of trees.  My diploma is in Ornamental Horticulture and the curriculum was heavy with landscaping, as well as growing, information.  My favorite tree personally is the White pine, Pinus strobus.

Living on Cape Cod, I am surrounded by Pinus rigida, or Scrub pine.  They are subject to boring hole beetles, are very rustic looking, and are somewhat scrubby-looking next to an elegant White pine, which also grows here.  I grew a White pine in a large tub for about 12 years, and then two years ago, had to plant it in the ground so that it could grow to its potential.  It is my "birthday tree" and Christmas tree, in my back yard.

Knowing I may be moving, I am somewhat heartbroken over leaving my tree behind.  I have purchased 50 White pine seedlings to grow on in pots until they are large enough to plant in the ground.  I will be drawing different aspects of this tree, but I have also started working in oils again, in order to capture the spirit of the tree, without all of the detail.

Below is one description of the history of this tree:


"The Eastern White Pine tree has been referred to as "the monarch of the forest." Some that greeted the first settlers reached a height of 250 feet with diameters of 6 feet. They were a bonanza for England in colonial times, as they met a vital military and commercial need for sailing ship masts. Since the colonists were rapidly using up the existing supply of trees close to the ocean that were large enough for masts, the Royal Navy appealed to Parliament. As a result, in 1691 Great Britain imposed the first of the so-called "broad arrow" acts, so named because of the axe mark placed on the reserved trees by the king's men, that reserved these trees for the English government. Growing resentment to the crown's appropriation of the choicest White Pines helped precipitate the Revolutionary War, and the first flag of the revolutionary forces even had a White Pine as its emblem." (from ebay seller drillstore nursery)


and another view of its history:

"The White pine , known by the native Americans as the Tree of peace and sometimes called the monarch of the forest , is a fast grower , and can reach up to 80- 100 ft at maturity . Because of the ease of transplanting , they are the ideal tree  for lanscaping or windbreaks as well as privacy fences or barriers . They are the tree of choice for bald eagles and many other forms of birds and wildlife . They are great for white tail deer, turkeys and the black bear .They grow best in partial sun to full shade .
 They are also friendly to other trees and shrubs , which allows for placing other shrubs  and  plants under them . They are frequently used as christmas trees . They can be pruned and shaped to grow as wider trees or can be allowed to grow freely . They have small yellowish cones as flowers and are evergreen , providing a beautiful tree all year long . " (from ebay seller icando3d, seller of the trees I purchased)

I have even designed a new logo for myself with the tree as a main design element.  I will be posting photos soon.