I spent some time in my studio today, starting a ‘manier noir’ style drawing. It’s a type of reductive drawing, working from black to white, rubbing away areas of charcoal to reveal the highlights. It’s the very first of a substantial body of drawings and original prints I have planned.
I prepared Fabriano Accademica paper with gesso and when it dried, I rubbed it evenly all over with compressed charcoal, using my hand to get a smooth black surface. I ‘draw’ into the charcoal with steel wool and very fine sandpaper. This technique results in a subtle but dramatic chiaroscuro.
Manier noir is an alternative name for the printmaking technique mezzotint, where an engraved metal plate has the highlights smoothed away with a steel burnisher.
I like this style of work, I can remember embarking on my first life drawing class many moons ago and attempting this method, I found it very relaxing. Can you tell me why you gesso the paper .
I use the gesso to make the surface tougher. I remove the charcoal or graphite with wire wool and sandpaper so the gesso protects the paper. I also like the texture that the gesso gives. Here’s a link to a previous blog saying how the paper is prepared 🙂 https://scribblah.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/inspiration/
Makes me want to pull out the gesso and charcoal and get crackin’! I really enjoyed that workshop.
The image already has the feeling of a powerful piece (even before reading about the subject). Great choice of materials for this work. 🙂
Thanks Gale. Do get the gesso and charcoal out. You did some lovely work in this technique 😊
Like these Rosie, very sculptural.
Thank you, Ric 🙂
Great drawing but a little bit spooky, too. 😉 Have a lovely day.
Thanks. It’s s dark subject. It’s based on drawings and photos I made when I visited the Holocaust memorial in Berlin a couple of winters ago, there was thick snow on the ground and it made the whole place look very spooky. Rain and snow coming your way, I’m afraid, unless it all falls on Belgium first 😀
Its a beautiful image Rosie, such subtlety of form.
Thank you Anna, I love the technique.