To begin with, please note that this is <u><i>not</i></u> a pencil drawing. It is silverpoint. (Let us see how many people read this)

Copy of the angel from Leonardo da Vinci's <i>The Virgin of the Rocks</i>. Silverpoint on paper prepared with gesso; 11 x 11.5cm. The scan is clearer, but robs something of the delicacy and subtlety of the original. Here is a photograph (the best I could manage) of the piece to hopefully give some idea.

When ~Heliocyan and I visited the <i>Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan</i> exhibition at London's National Gallery two months ago, we came away enthusing about trying our hand at silverpoint. In no time at all, Claudia had very kindly sent me the necessary materials. I've only now had the time and courage to try it.

The copy is not exact, but that was never the point of the exercise. In many ways, I'm actually glad that there seems to be something of me in the drawing, too.

I thoroughly enjoyed this technique and look forward to doing more pieces in it. The silver will gradually oxidise to a brown tinge. It will be interesting to see how it looks then.

Whilst practically everyone else is powering away with their digital stuff, I'm returning to the methods of the Renaissance. Stands to reason...

Oh, and here is some suggested background listening. <sub>Caveat: just enjoy the art and music, please; leave the unnecessary discussions out. You know exactly what I'm referring to. :roll: