More Metal

Only a few days remain in Metal Month, my version of an event called Inktober. My goal has been to do at least one metalpoint drawing every day, as a way to practice and refine skills. Ten days of travel out of state caused a bit of disruption, but so far I've managed more than twenty drawings, mostly with silver, though a couple of goldpoint drawings sneaked in too. 

In this drawing of a middle-aged man, it was the sidelong, wary expression that was most attractive, but the off-center hat, jowly cheeks and mustache were added attractions. This one is on a piece of fairly rough paper rather than on a specially prepared surface. Most metalpoint drawings these days seem to be executed on paper or some other surface that has been given at least one coat of liquid silverpoint ground. This one is about 5x9 inches.

Many past masters have made silverpoint drawings, and copying their work has been a good way to work on the mechanical aspects of the medium. That is, since it's difficult to eradicate the marks made with a metalpoint stylus the artist must use special care to place each mark accurately as well as strive hard to give each mark the right degree of darkness. Metalpoint has a much narrower range of values available, which adds to the challenge. This particular drawing of a sneering woman is from a photo I snapped many years ago. It was done in my metalpoint book which has been prepared as mentioned above with a brushed-on liquid ground. 

During these final days of October my plan is to draw more figures. The drawing to the right is a study of a figure in a classic sculpture "Laocoon and His Children," made nearly two thousand years ago in ancient Greece or Rome. It was discovered in 1506 to the delight and inspiration of Michelangelo. I was attracted by the sinuous, muscular torso of Laocoon. 

Only a few more days and a few more figures.