Following the iron brush

Hiya,

I'd like some input on possible ways to create a silvery grayish white patina on a soft metal... like that which might resemble the colour and feel on these dried fish..

I would appreciate all contributions.. perhaps even a little brain storming session exploring ways one might go about representing said effect.

Cheers
Clive

all depends on which soft metal Clive. The the readily available options are tin, lead, aluminium, silver. Looking at those dried fish my approach would be to use fine silver with perhaps some washes of gold and various toning agents.

A pale shibuichi is also a possibility. Need more info please ....what do you have in mind?

Clive- though I haven't gotten into it too deeply yet, I'm beginning to work with the use of gofun (shell white) and sumi pigments and their application to the surface of carvings. There's quite a lot to get a grasp of, but used togther, a variety of dry, chalky grey surfaces can be achieved. Additionally, the application of silver leaf- not the aluminum that is normally sold to imitate silver- might show some promise. Both of these would be used for wood. I realize you mentioned metal, but you asked for a discussion

That dry chalky surface is really an attractive one for me too. I know that powdered whetstone can be used also- presumably mixed with a little gelatine to make a paint- for a similar effect.

Yes Doug.. I not sure it is about that dry chalkiness that I'm attracted too.. that effect one sees on dried fish skin has a delicate texture that particularly attractive but I also an very draw to it when its contrasted with a translucent quality.. as one might see on a single fish scale. I've played around with various painterly approaches, but want to try something a bit more substantial.. silver leaf might as you say also be worth investigating.

Ford.. I'd like the metal to be paper thin.. literally just a skin that it can be manipulated and then fixed on to another material that will imitate the flesh of a dried fish... imagine a butterfly filleted fish.. like a kipper.. a netsuke where the flesh and bone is say carved from a amber brown horn and the skin a separate thin sheet of metal.. that if thin enough one might also be able to press an imitation of individual scales into. Possible?

If you can find a way to stabilize the oxide on lead you'r halfway.
Lead can produce a nice white oxide (try vinegar), can be burnished to a silvery gray and it's easy to press scales into.
Maybe you can give it a layer of urushi?

But as usual... you're asking to much.

Would the kind of graphite used in lead pencils be an idea? I was thinking of a 4B or higher. Perhaps powder the lead , mix it with a glue base and paint/dab it on?

If you are thinking of going the metal leaf route, I would suggest palladium leaf, rather than silver. Palladium leaf is marginally more expensive but infinitely more permanent in color than silver, which always seems to turn black or grey, even under a coating. I have achieved some really nice pearl-like effects using palladium as a base, with layers of semi-transparent washes of colored laquer over top.

Thanks Phil- you speak from experience in this case, and me only by theory.

Stainless steel may give the color properties that you are looking for. Something like 303 but it will be hard to work with unless you can find a source for very thin stock. Another idea is German silver or nickel silver, you could roll that to the desired thickness.

Many thanks for the suggestions folks.. there's a few interesting ideas there to explore.