Azaleas, on some new paper stock
Posted: May 5, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized 16 CommentsRain, rain and more rain in Montreal this week, which means it’s a good time to try out some things in the studio. A while back someone from the UK brought me a beautiful gift of some Two Rivers paper to try — small samples that I put together to make a bigger sheet for painting some apples. I loved the paper but it took about a year and half for me to get around to ordering some more.
I’m trying to work a little bigger these days, especially in studio, and I’m finding 1/4 sheets a little small, so I ordered some 16″ x 20″ NOT paper to try out, both in 200 and 300 lb. I like the format. It’s not as big as a full sheet but the proportions are more pleasing than the very horizontal format of a half sheet. Here’s a description of the paper from the Two Rivers website:
“Two Rivers has a unique random surface texture unlike the mechanically even weave of most other branded papers. This also means that there is not a right or wrong side as both sides are identical.” True. I only discovered the watermark after my painting was done and realized that I had painted on the back of the paper, but the surface was just as beautiful to paint on as the front.
“It is incredibly hard sized, allowing the painter the luxury of pushing paint around for much longer than with more absorbent artists papers. Because the paint is not drawn into the paper the pigment dries to a sharp and brilliant finish. The inclusion of linen in its make-up results in an unusually tough surface which will resist much lifting out, scrubbing and re-working.” Again, so true. If you like to beat up the paper, push your brush around, lift, splash, layer, work wet and dry, then you might enjoy this surface. I have tried other handmade papers before found them to be unreliable because they absorbed paint unevenly and developed surfaces splotches and irregularities when dry. But no complaints yet about this Two Rivers paper. And since there is rain in the forecast for much of the next week, I will be experimenting more with this paper.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Just beautiful!
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Thanks so much Cleti.
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Thanks for the commentary on the Two Rivers paper. it’s always good to
hear about products and their properties when actually in use. I have recently
tried Canson Heritage papers and they are very pleasing as well. Don’t suppose that
Two Rivers is available in Canada??
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I haven’t found Two Rivers in Canada, yet… I bought it from Jackson’s in the UK but of course there is shipping and duty which makes it expensive. As for the Canson Heritage, I received their sample pack but didn’t like it at all. As with most Canson papers, it absorbs too much colour for my taste. The only paper of theirs that I like is the Montval.
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Wow! Love this, Shari!
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Thanks so much Linda!
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Your azaleas are beautiful and certainly brighten up this rainy day! I love the way you worked your leaves, it really gives them depth and dimension.
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Many thanks Liliane!
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It’s gorgepus Shari!Real statement on the size I bet in person.
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Thanks Monique, and I knew what you meant despite the spelling.
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make that an o instead of a P:)
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I figured!
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Thanks for your comments on the paper stock you used for this painting. I appreciate that much! The azaleas are so lovely surrounded in the multicolored greens of leaves. Changing your size format seems to have energized your work. The flowers good so fresh and full of life.
Thanks for sharing the beauties of Spring.
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Thank you Bernadette!
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Merci Shari pour toutes ces infos ! Ma question : ce papier est-il vraiment différent des Fabriano, Arches, Lanaquarelle ?
La nouvelle gamme Canson Heritage ne m’a pas convaincue non plus…
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Bonjour Joëlle. Oui, ce papier est vraiment différent. There is more of a handmade texture to it rather than an even machine texture. The problem is that it is quite expensive. But well worth it!
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