Back to graphite

Water-soluble graphite ... an intriguing material. Adding water to the graphite line makes it very dark, and you can move the shading to elsewhere on the paper. I'm planning to use it for some "travel lines" and have been experimenting; will it make dark lines on a dark background?

A light and a heavier coating in my notebook, quite a grainy paper. Lines added with a finger dipped in water (top) and below, the waterbrush, which can carry the line outside the dark area (might be useful). The graphite areas are shiny; the wetted areas are matte. You have to move your head to see it properly.

Some other papers - all smooth except top right. Some started out black and the graphite made them silvery or grey, then again the addition of water for the matteness, darkness -

Taking the photo reminded me what a nightmare it is to photograph graphite - it's dark and shiny. Would scanning get results?

Further experiments - smooth paper with various ways of applying the graphite. And some erasure after the water dried -

Next step, road-testing the fully-graphite-covered sheets (A4) on my next journey on the Underground.