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Historic Watercolour Papers

22 items

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 SHEETSWe 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.
 
 
 
 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 SHEETSWe 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.