The drawing pencils we know today are made of graphite which became popular as a material for drawing towards the end of the 16th century. Before then drawings were made using a variety of metal sticks. Many of the lovely drawings of the Renaissance period were done using these ‘metal points’. Lead point was the easiest of metals for the artist to use because it didn’t require the paper to be coated with a slightly toothy surface like silverpoint did. The drawback is that lead is a very soft metal which blunts very easily so the point must be re-shaped often. It was often alloyed with tin to make it harder and reduce the need for constant re-shaping.
Today we still talk about the core of a graphite pencil or coloured pencil as a ‘lead’. We also sell graphite sticks, thin and also 2mm, that are called ‘leads’ and the holder for the loose leads is called a ‘clutch pencil’ or ‘lead holder’. Some sizes of the clutch lead holders work well with silver rods.
Some examples of silverpoint drawings from the 15-17th centuries:
An abrasive surface is used to allow the metal to leave a trail of itself. Metal point drawings are difficult to erase but they also do not easily smear. It is best suited to a delicate style of line drawing, a sensitive hand and a confidence that doesn’t use erasure. You can use the end of the metal as a rounded tip or you can sharpen it on a sharpening stone, with sandpaper or using metal cutters. Realise that a very sharp point will leave indents in the drawing surface.
At Jackson’s Art Supplies we stock a variety of traditional metal point materials:
Lead Point Stylus–
This stick of solid lead is quite heavy for its size. It comes wrapped in tape.
Because it is the softest metal it makes the darkest grey line of the metal points.
A lead point will make a mark on any paper.
Lead-Tin Point Stylus–
This solid stick of lead-tin alloy is nearly as heavy as the lead point. It comes wrapped in tape.
Because the lead is alloyed with tin it is a bit harder so it blunts less quickly and it makes a slightly lighter coloured grey line than the lead stylus.
Will make a mark on any paper.
Silver Point–
These 100% silver rods and wires need to be held in a clutch holder which is purchased separately or they come in a ‘pencil’ that is a wood body with a silver wire glued in the tip.
The thin wires fit the wire holder (a type of pin vise) and the 2mm rods fit any of our 2mm clutch lead holders.
The silver marks of the drawing will tarnish over months or years and become a darker, more brown colour, this is one of the effects desired by artists.
The silver is the hardest metal and requires a smooth yet somewhat toothy surface that can be achieved by preparing your surface with gesso primer, Golden Silverpoint Ground, Sinopia Chalk Casein Ground for Silverpoint or by using a toothy pastel paper such as Mi Teintes Touch paper and card or Clairefontaine Pastelmat papers. When testing – the 2mm silver rod was found similar to a 3H pencil hardness.
Gold Point–
This 9ct gold wire fits the wire holder (see above).
The gold is softer than silver but still works best on a coated ground the same as silverpoint does. The colour is a warm grey to a golden colour, with a golden sheen.
The gold does not tarnish so the drawing colour will not change.
2mm HB graphite (in clutch lead holder), lead-tin stylus (solid metal, comes wrapped in tape), lead stylus (solid metal, comes wrapped in tape), 2mm silverpoint rod (in clutch lead holder)
on Mi Teintes Touch pastel paper
Golden Silverpoint Ground–
Many artists enjoy drawing on a surface of illustration board coated with silverpoint ground. The thickness of the board means the moisture from applying the ground will not curl the paper.
As Golden say:
“Designed for the achievement of fine, detailed lines, Silverpoint / Drawing Ground is permanent, lightfast and more flexible over time than traditional preparations. Formulated to meet the unique needs of metal point artists, Golden Silverpoint / Drawing Ground offers a metal receptive ground, applicable to a range of drawing supports. Developed for easy application, the ground has a very fluid consistency that will level as it dries. A Single coat of Silverpoint / Drawing Ground provides a smooth, durable surface, ideal for mark making with a silverpoint stylus or other metal, such as brass, gold, copper, or even a steel paperclip.
Silverpoint, or metal point, drawing as an art form has changed little over the centuries of its distinguished history. The artist working in silverpoint today has an intimate connection to the work of such revered artists as da Vinci and Rembrandt, as well as more recently, Picasso and Joseph Stella. As tiny particles of metal are left behind on a slightly abrasive ground, metal point drawing offers the ability to achieve lasting, exquisitely detailed lines that won’t smudge. If different types of metal are used within a piece, over time oxidation of the different metals will impart subtle shifts in the tonality of the lines.”
Read these earlier posts about silverpoint.
You might like the book Silverpoint and Metalpoint Drawing.
The Drawing Materials Department on jacksonsart.com.
The Silverpoint Department on jacksonsart.com.
Click on the underlined links to go to the products on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Postage on orders shipped standard to mainland UK addresses is free for orders of £39.
26 thoughts on “Traditional Metal Point Drawing Materials”
Hi,
I just read your notes on metalpoint. Please have a look at the website (and James M Glenn’s http://silverpointweb.com). I’m happy to correspond with info and images if you send me an email. Cheers, Gordon Hanley
Gordon
I am sure you can help me out . I bought some supplies ,
wire stylus and ground rom silverpoint web.com and was
amazed with your drawings- I am only experimenting at
the moment and wondered how you get the immediate
gold sheen on the paper ? I have used the appropriate
paper with ground and the gold stylus only leaves light
grey lines and only can see gold very faintly – are there
any secrets like perhaps using a small gold bar ?
Thanks for you r help
I wanted to know if you need to use a wire holder or silverpoint stylus ? I was going to draw with the silver like I draw with vine charcoal.
Hi David
You can draw with silverpoint wire without a holder but the wire is very thin and bends easily so it will not be thick and stiff like charcoal and will be harder to control without a holder of some kind, it will be fiddly.
You can draw with any piece of metal on any rough surface, for instance you can use a silver ring or earring on a piece of fine sandpaper or concrete to make drawing marks. The holders are useful for better manipulation.
Hope that helps.
I’m looking at buying a rose gold wire for metalpoint.
Any idea what sort of colour or affect that will have on
paper?
No, but it sounds nice! The gold and silver make brown and grey marks, if the rose is from copper it should be a different shade, but it might be a subtle difference.
If you try it come back and let us know?
Hello! Could you please include me on your e-mail list? Thanks
Hi Rex,
Consider it done!
Many thanks
Lisa
Question: A local jeweler told me that silver wire must be
heat treated in order for it to be used for drawing. Is that
correct?
Hi
I haven’t heard this before and have heard from others who work with silverpoint that you can work with it right away.
Many thanks
Lisa
Hi
All I can think they might be referring to is the softness of the wire. If it is dead soft it might be too malleable to draw with as it will bend. But heating makes it softer, unless you quench it in cold water. And heat-hardening only works with sterling silver. Pure silver can be work-hardened by hammering it lightly. It is usually pure silver that is used for silverpoint.
I hope that is of some help.
Hello I am just getting aquatinted with all
the wonderful art supplies you have listed. I
have trouble keeping everything organized, I
was wondering if anyone have a tool they
could share with me.
Hi Joy
We have a whole array of pencil cases….I am assuming it’s drawing materials that you wish to keep organised in particular? I would be lost without my pencil roll as it keeps everything in order – https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-black-pencil-roll
you might like this case as it’s rigid and I imagine offers a little more protection (if you carry your pencils around a lot) – https://www.jacksonsart.com/jackson-s-hard-pencil-folio-holds-33-pencils-black
There are all sorts of suggestions here though! – https://www.jacksonsart.com/studio/art-storage-boxes-cases-rolls/pencil-cases-rolls
Many thanks
Lisa
Hello,
I’ve made my own silverpoint ground by
adding marble dust to acrylic gesso and the
result is wonderful but it’s really a pain to
have to prepare. I see you used Mi-teintes
Touch paper. Can you say something about
how this performs and if the silverpoint will
show on Mi-teintes Touch of different
colors?
Thank you!
Hi Juan
Any of the fine grit pastel papers work well for silverpoint, each gives a different look. The grey of the silverpoint looks different on a coloured ground, and sometimes the subtlety is quite nice.
We do a Comparison pack of Sanded Papers, some will be too coarse, but you might like to try it.
Can I use a clutch or mechanical pencil for
silver point or other metal point drawing as
the holder I find is far too thick for me and
the other holder doesnt allow to change
metal points?
Hi Petroula
Yes, you can. It works very well. In the article, I show two images explaining that the 2mm silverpoint rods fit any of our 2mm clutch lead holders.
The thin wires fit the wire holder.
just wanted to share that i have been
having a lot of fun using gold point on
paper treated with Golden Black
Gesso…it goes on smooth and looks
fantastic against the black, a very
different look from using it on a white
background, as the warm yellow tone of
the gold comes through quite vividly.
Hi Christopher
That sounds really good! I imagine it looks amazing!
And it’s good to know that the gesso gives enough tooth for it to go on smoothly. Thanks.
Hello
I wondering the gold point will give the
golden sheen or not? Others said they do not
giving the golden sheen. It should reflected
with the light only.
It is not like drawing a line of gold. It is more like a warm grey with highlights of gold when you tilt it in the light.
Pingback: What is Metalpoint Drawing? Definition, Tips and Examples
Hello, can you tell me if Silverpoint is
suitable for drawing under an oil painting?
Thank you, Tami Bone
Yes, it is fine.
Will the RenaArt fixative spray harm my
silverpoint drawings?
I’m sorry but I don’t know that product and so I cannot advise you about it.
Comments are closed.