Metalpoint Drawings

Metalpoint is a drawing technique that pre-dates graphite pencils. It is an incredibly delicate medium that Leonardo da Vinci, among many others, employed in their drawings. The most common metal used is silver but I've used brass, copper, aluminum and even gold. The beauty of this medium is that some of the metals tarnish, and so, over time they will subtley change in color. These drawings were made from actual preserved specimens at the Entomology department at the University of Missouri. The Stag Beetle drawing is 4.25 x 2.75in. and Specimen is 5.25 x 3.5in.