British Museum

On Monday I went to visit the British Museum to view the exhibition Drawing in silver and gold. This exhibition is showing works from some of the finest artists from throughout history. The focus is purely on art created using the metal point technique. This was something I had been unaware of as a technique so I wanted to find out more about it. The  technique actually involves much preparation in the paper that will be used to draw upon. The paper must be treated to build an abrasive surface, this allows for the metal stylus to rub off onto the paper. The lines are very fine and delicate and require accuracy in drawing as they cannot be erased. The technique seems very technical and most likely expensive to draw in silver or gold. However exposing myself to new ideas is always a good thing and something can always be learnt. This technique is unlikely to become something I use for my project but may lay as a back burner idea for something new to try in the future. Many of the works on display show immense understanding of their subject, control of the materials and an economical use of line, which is a term I had never come across before. This does not mean that they were saving money by not using much silver but they only put lines where they were actually required. This requires much attention to detail, thought and consideration before each mark is made. There was one image which interested me as I have a slight idea for an image I wish to portrait in a story, this may come in useful later to draw ideas from and is shown below (Fig 1).

Fig 1

During my time in the exhibition I found that I became interested in the people also viewing the works(Fig 2). I decided to sketch some of these people, I believe I had been inspired by a book I read the night before on urban sketching.

Fig 2

After leaving the exhibition I went to look at further artworks and other historical artefacts during which time I found a plaque explaining some student artworks that were on display. The description of what they works are about "Wayfinding" seemed to explain exactly how I felt about this honours project at that moment in time (Fig 3).

Fig 3

I also happened to come across a stone sculpture which intrigued me. I decided to sketch this as I feel the face of this character fits someone I want to portrait within my story, after reading the descriptor I knew he just fits the bill perfectly (Fig 4).

Fig 4

There were also some other artefacts which interested me, mainly a giant vase which I imagined as the cup of a giant, almost like a goblet. This is shown below (Fig 5). This might make it into a scene in my story, only time will tell. The trip to the British Museum threw up some unexpected results, my curiosity for others in the building. Why were they there? What were they there to see? How rather than trying to copy art from masters I had a variety of other resources to pull from throughout the museum that could lead to something far more original and inspire me in many ways. Each artefact has its own story, where had it been? who created it? this seems a far more interesting path to follow and also reinvigorated my interest in the people who are here today, they ones surrounding me.