I’m taking a course at the Washington Art Association with Banjie Nicholas, a wonderful “nature” artist that specializes in silverpoint and egg tempera. I’m fascinated by her soft drawings and paintings of birds and butterflies, dragonflies and feathers, all things to make you smile.

I know nothing at all about silverpoint and have been aching to get back to some artwork on a regular basis (nothing like homework as an excuse to leave the beds unmade and slip off to the studio) so this provides a wonderful opportunity. So just to keep me honest and working I’ve decided to post my explorations into this new medium.
Here’s the first day’s drawings and wonderful moth Banjie provided. I think that she raises them. (Karen, these are your colors!)



The drawing that looks like light pencil is the silver point. The drawing underneath it is colored pencil that didn’t work very well because the watercolor paper was too bumpy – even with the light layer of gouache paint that coats the page to help the silver point adhere. The right side is watercolors – trying to match the moth and our slightly wind damaged friend.

Here's a link to Banjie's site, such beautiful work it worth a look! Banjie Nicholas