Silver Point

Before lead pencils were invented, artists such as Leonardo da Vinci drew on specially prepared paper with slender rods of solid silver. The resulting line, created by a thin coating of silver being deposited on the surface of the paper, is fine and delicate, with a faint pearly sheen, and should not smudge or rub out. This art form can still be used for exquisite line work. The author, while reviving the technique, has also discovered how to tint her drawings with soft colour using watercolour, pastels or acrylics. She also shows how to make silver-point paper at home. The examples include landscapes, flowers and miniature portraits.