Drawing lessons - illustrated lesson notes for teachers and students

Silver and copper

2-2 SILVER AND COPPER

SILVER Technical: Second to gold as most

malleable. Oxides are black forming silver

sulphide (try egg yolks) - see dark cracks in

example. Spitting silver, when silver cools it

expels oxygen and spits. Used as an alloy,

in photography and for coins. Absorbs most

hues equally but seems to reflect minor

amounts of most.

Conceptionally : Precious metal with dull

lustre. Jewellery, tableware. Combines well

with gold and glass and useful for subtle

neutral highlights.

Presentation: Always try and understate -

against a dark background if possible. As

with the pearl, silver can be painted over

with a milky rainbow-hued semi-

transparent film. Adaptable for use beside

objects with strong hues as it will give nice

secondary glows. Make colors as subtle as

possible.

Painting: First paint in grey as slick and smooth as possible making sure to roughly place the

highlights. Allow to dry then glaze with thin quick drying medium. When dry scrumble on red

blue and yellows in minute milky amounts. When dry glaze again ( or else you can apply the

colors thinly within a medium). Scrumble on colors reflected from nearby objects etc. Place

some opaque highlights and merge with surrounding areas until a dull glow is achieved.

COPPER Technical: Found in pure state and

can be beaten into shape when cold.

Alloyed with tin gives bronze. Used as

plates for engraving and etching. Oxidises a

green-blue. Often mined with sulphur which

is burnt off in smelting. Great conductor -

wide use as cooking utensils. Copper is

usually fashioned using a 'ball-pane'

hammer which has a rounded face. This

gives it that distinctive ripple effect.

Conceptional: Coins, warm brown colors

with irregular highlights. Goes in and out of

fashion with house utensils etc. Age-old

metal easily beaten into relief panels which

some years ago were made into stand-

alone decorations.

Presentation: Best given the beaten effect

• see below. Hints of green in the shadows
  with subdued red-yellow hues in middle
  tones.

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