Silverpoint

Before the lead pencil artists used silver wire on a paper surface prepared so it was slightly abrasive and holds the silver particles well. The silver thus exposed to the air would soon oxidise and darken, giving a pencil drawing like effect. Chalk was more popular in the old days because it took less preparation and was cheaper, but silver point was still one of the main drawing materials in the Renaissance. It can still be done today. Take a clutch pencil and instead of ordinary lead insert a short length of silver wire of the appropriate thickness, and obtained from a jewelry supply store. Draw on one of the pastel papers that has a finely abrasive surface, these are available in some stores. Don’t be surprised if the line is ‘softer’ than pencil lines you are used to, as this is part of the charm of the medium.