Silverpoint/metalpoint was the Old Masters’ pencil before there were graphite pencils. These artists used the medium for delicate, detailed work, and for cartoons under frescos. Contemporary artists are exploring the medium because it is now easy to use, in any size and for many subjects.
“A Drawing Medium That Remains an Enigma” is Sherry Camhy’s latest article on what one art historian calls “a medium of possibility awaiting still further investigation.”
Sherry Camhy’s silverpoint portrait, Olivia, will be on view from June 15 to June 23 as part of the Hudson Valley Artists Association’s 85th Annual Juried Exhibition.
Sherry Camhy’s silverpoint drawing has been accessioned into the permanent collection of the Arkansas Arts Center Foundation. Read the story behind the work.
Before pencils and paper, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, and many other artists drew with lead, silver, gold, and other metal points to create timeless studies on small specially prepared surfaces.