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Historic Watercolour

 The mill has endeavoured to manufacture a range of art papers to meet most painting and drawing needs.  In particular the characteristics of some historic water colour papers have been researched  to produce a collection of papers made in the strictest traditional fashion including loft drying and tub gelatine sizing.

The object has been to produce close reproductions of historic watercolour papers chosen by a few of the most eminent of British watercolour artists of the 18th & 19th centuries.  These include Joshua Cristall, David Cox, Thomas Girtin.

Cotton fibres are used, together with increased quantities of fibres of flax and hemp,  which, complemented by vigorous beating and blending of the fibres, natural loft drying and tub gelatine sizing, produce a tough durable sheet, not readily matched by mould made papers.

 

LOFT DRYING allows the longer fibres of each sheet to contract naturally and combine in the open air to adopt the felt mark character of the eventual surface finish.  The sheets are therefore generally not flat and some shrinkage takes place which renders the sheet slightly smaller than the nominal dimensions of the mould.

 

GELATINE SIZING  is the second key component.  Each sheet absorbs the gelatine in a hot bath of the liquid and is then allowed to dry slowly over a few days.  The gelatine hardens gently and continues to improve as it ages over a few months.  This process provides a surface which ensures smooth brushwork and is suitable for pen and ink. Other techniques such as scratching out and wash lift off are attainable with confidence.

 

PREPARING YOUR PAPER

Most papers will need to be prepared by soaking and drying taped to a board to stretch them and to provide a drum tight surface on which to work.  We can supply details of this process together with sufficient gummed tape for quarter imperial sheets for the whole order.

 

CUT SHEETS

We can supply these papers cut into half or quarter sheets at no extra cost.  If you require this service please ask us when you place the order.

 

 

 

 

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Joshua Cristall, white wove paper

                            

                             Joshua Cristall, (1768 -1847) was brought up in London where he began his career

                             as a china painter; he trained at the Royal Academy and he became a professional

                             artist soon after, concentrating mainly on water-colours and sketches of figures and landscapes.

 

 

                           He jointly founded the Society of Painters in Water-colours with the Varleys in

                           1805 and subsequently became its President on several occasions.   The naming

                            of these warm white papers after him, is a small tribute to his achievements.

 
jc200

Joshua Cristall, 200 g/m², 95lb imperial

090G

Nominal size 56 x 76 cm  22" x 30"    NOT surface finish when stretched

Joshua Cristall, 200 g/m², HP, 95lb imperial

090hp
Nominal size  56 x 76 cm   22" x 30"   Cold glazed smooth surface
jc300

Joshua Cristall, 300 g/m², 140lb imperial

091G

Nominal size  56 x 76 cm   22" x 30 "   NOT surface finish when stretched

 

 

Joshua Cristall, 240 g/m² - Neutral Sized

122
Nominal size  38 x 52 cm   15" x 22"

David Cox water-colour & drawing papers

  

                               David Cox, (1783-1859) was an influential drawing teacher and a theorist

                                of landscape, as well as a practising artist.  He made numerous informal

                               sketches of life along the banks of the Thames as well as street scenes

                              in England and abroad. 

 

Many of his works were produced on wrapping papers of the period.  The papers below are two versions of the many off-white tone styles which characterised David Cox's choice since he began as an artist. 

 
077g

David Cox, gelatine sized, 200 g/m², 95lb Imperial

077G

Nominal size  56 x 76 cm    "22 x 30"

NOT surface finish when stretched

The picture clearly illustrates the beige toned, hemp rich nature of the paper, with its fibrous inclusions.
077

David Cox, neutral sized, 220 g/m², 105lb imperial

077

Nominal size  56 x 76 cm  "22 x 30"

Restraint dried with NOT surface, mid-beige tone, contains multi-coloured fibre inclusions typical of many of the various machine made David Cox drawing papers.

David Cox, neutral sized, 240 g/m², 110lb Imperial

123

Nominal size  38 x 52 cm   15" x 20"

Restraint dried with NOT surface, mid-beige tone, contains multi-coloured fibre inclusions typical of many of the various machine made David Cox drawing papers.

Thomas Girtin, laid gelatine sized papers

T

Thomas Girtin, (1775 - 1802) learned drawing and painting at an early age as an

apprentice in London, working also with Turner during his teenage years.  He continued working in

 England with a short period in Paris before his early death in 1802.  His reputation for

landscapes and architectural works grew rapidly and many of his works were executed

on Laid papers with distinctive mould marks.
098

Thomas Girtin Plain, gelatine sized, 200 g/m², 95lb imperial

098
Nominal size  56 x 76 cm  22" x 30"

The soft warm tone results from the natural colour of the hemp fibres

 
083

Thomas Girtin Blue laid, gelatine sized, 200 g/m², 95lb Imperial

083G
Nominal size  56 x 76 cm  22" x 30"

The soft blued tone results from the natural colour of the hemp fibres combined with blue fibred inclusions

Additional papers for mixed media
183g

Whistler's Olive, gelatine sized, 200 g/m², 95lb imperial

183G

Nominal size 56 x 76 cm   22" x 30"

Mid-toned olive paper with pigments, NOT surface when stretched

 
e56

Oatmeal

E56

Textured gelatine sized paper from cotton with wheatchaff inclusions.

200 g/m²,  50 x 70 cm
wc-cream

Heavy weight cream wove, 500 g/m²

137G

100% cotton, pale cream gelatine surface sized

56 x 76 cm   22" x 30"

 

RUSCOMBE PASTELESS BOARD

An interesting addition to the classic papers

A New range of Heavy Weight board ready to use for watercolour, gouache and acrylic paints.  For extra toughness 100% linen fibre has been used. The board has been tub gelatine sized . There is a visible felt mark which gives  a rough surface texture
img_0904_001

Ruscombe Pasteless Board, pack of 4 sheets

L3

19.5 x 30 cm  7.7" x 12"

Warm toned white 100% linen board, gelatine sized

Deckle trimmed with 4 cut edges