Greag Mac a' tSaoir
Ealaíontóir – Artist
Drawing
Over the last couple of years I’ve made a preponderance of three dimensional work but a recent change of circumstance has forced me to re-think my practice. I’ve always had an interest in historic practices and the seemingly alchemical ways in which previous generations of artists used materials in inventive ways. One of the processes I’m particularly interested in is silverpoint. Before graphite lead pencils were in common use artists used a silver pointed stylus to make a mark. If you look at any old master drawings there’s a high degree of probability that the delicately traced marks they made were put on a prepared papaer surface with a silverpoint. The silver leaves no visible mark on bare paper but if you coat the paper with casein gesso it leaves a fine grey line. Once the mark is made it can’t be erased the way a pencil line can so it’s a very unforgiving technique but ineffably beautiful. I’m normally in favour of diving straight in but on this occasion I’ve decided I had better refresh my drawing abilities fo I’ll end up succumbing to frustration so what you’re seeing below are pencil drawings.
Greag Mac a' tSaoir 