About The Mill
Our Approach
to Quality
Water Colour & Drawing Papers
The Paper Collection:
Water
Colour
Drawing
Pastel
Dry Techniques
Calligraphy
Architectural
Presentational
Fine
Book Papers
Conservation
Silk
Screen Printing,
Etching &
Lithography
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RUSCOMBE PAPER MILL
has endeavoured to manufacture a range of art papers to meet most
painting, drawing and printing needs. In particular the mill has
carefully researched the characterisics of the originals to reproduce,
as faithfully as possible, a range of papers close to those used
by certain well-known English watercolour painters of the late 18th
century, amongst them:
J.M.W.
Turner Click Image for details of this painting >> |
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The papers are characterized in two styles and are either NEUTRAL SIZED AND FLAT DRIED or LOFT DRIED AND GELATINE SIZED In the former case a chemical neutral size is added to the paper pulp during manufacture and cures whilst the paper is dried in a flat restrained condition, providing a less textured surface ideal for all drawing techniques as well as for painting. For the latter the use of traditional fibres of flax and hemp has been increased and are key components, which, complemented by vigorous beating and blending of the fibres, natural loft drying and tub gelatine sizeing, 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 SIZEING 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 ensure smooth brushwork, pen & ink. Other techniques such as scratching out and wash lift off are attainable with confidence. 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 supply details of this process.
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THE COLLECTION AZUR
DE TURNER - neutral sized A replica of
one of the blue papers produced by an English mill between 1810
and 1835 for J.M.W. Turner (1775 - 1851) the famous English watercolour
artist. From 1820 Turner used many of these papers during his travels
in Belgium, Italy, Germany and France. The shade of this paper allows
watercolour artists to be more adventurous than is possible with
a plain white sheet.
Along with a long fibred cotton content, the paper contains a substantial proportion of refined linen pulp and hemp to produce a tough and durable working sheet. The granite like separation and liveliness of the sheet are achieved by the combination of a white pulp to which a small proportion of blue and black dyed fibres is carefully blended after beating.
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MÉDOC VÉLIN - neutral sized David Cox (1783-1859)
another English landscape painter, chose a different sort of handmade
paper, with Scottish origins, intended for the wrapping of sugar.
From 1836 this paper was made on wove moulds. This paper has a warm
buff tone which takes white highlights well, especially for portrait
drawing.
BLANC ANCIEN - neutral sized John Sell Cotman
(1782-1842) used a softly hued, off-white wove paper for his landscapes.
Ruscombe Paper Mill's sheet is made from cotton and refined hemp
to give this agreeable look and a tough linen surface for heavy
working in the wet.
INDIA OFFICE DRAWING - neutral sized This reproduction
of a paper originally introduced for conservation purposes has been
introduced as an art paper for drawing and pen and ink work. The
paper is made from cotton and linen, tinted to a deep beige with
added black fibres.
WHISTLER's OLIVE - neutral sized A deep olive toned drawing paper, reproduction of an earlier paper, De wint, made from cotton and linen.
TURNER'S BLUE - gelatine sized A similar formula to that of the Azur but with added advantage of the traditional manufacturing techniques.
DAVID COX HANDMADE - gelatine sized A natural hemp rich paper of luminous beige tone with visible fibre inclusions
JOSHUA CRISTALL's WHITE - gelatine sized Named after a prominent and several times president of the Royal Watercolour Society, tha paper is a muted white, using cotton, refined hemp and linen to give the agreable look and tough surface
A SOFT CREAM PIGMENTED SHEET, similar to the Joshua Cristall White, gelatine sized
THOMAS GIRTIN LAID - gelatine sized Interpretations of two typical broad laid papers preferred by Girtin. He often used a simple wrapping paper in the laid form, made from raw materials such as rope, coloured cottons, old linen coloured cloth. Similar traces of these fibres can be seen in our modern blued version of the paper.
WHISTLER'S OLIVE - gelatine sized A similar formula to that of the neutral sized paper but with the added advantage of the traditional techniques
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