Secret Sauce?

[Chantal Sulkow]

Peggy, your sauce portraits are just beautiful - I especially love Denise!

I was so struck by the rich quality you've achieved with this medium that I immediately ordered the sauce sticks from Dick Blick.

For several years I watched a number of street portrait artists that work in Central Park here in New York, and there is one in particular who always got extraordinary results: he appeared to be using a cross between charcoal and an ink wash, and now I think I know his secret. I recall at the finish of a portrait sketch, he would use a pen knife to "slice" off the highlights in the eyes and on the tip of the nose, getting back to the pure white of the paper. It was a very striking effect.

I've been reading the threads on sauce here on the Forum but one thing I haven't found (unless I overlooked something!?) is what surface you're using. What kind of paper are you working on? I'm assuming a heavier weight, smooth surface or bristol board...I'm excited to start experimenting, and I would love to know!