Printer Paper for Art Reprints - Red River Paper

Just wanted to share.........

Over the years I have tried various papers for printing art projects and frameable reprints.  Most of the papers I've tried I didn't like the texture or the results (often way too dark regardless of printer settings I could change). 

Years ago, I did find one paper I fell in love with called Arches Infinity Digital Art and Photo paper which is Museum Quality paper.  I had several boxes of 25 sheets and thankful that when I purchased that paper, I purchased several boxes because you can no longer get it.  I understand Canon is somehow involved with that and maybe they have an equivalent or use a different name for the same paper but I've tried various Canon papers and not impressed.

Running out of my stock of Arches, I started doing some research reading forums and reviews from photographers and other artists.  I came across a company mentioned by several called Red River Paper that specializes in Digital Art and Photo papers.  After spending some time on their website and reading comments by people who have purchased from them, I decided to give them a try......and soooo glad I did!!!

I ended up going with their Aurora Art White 285 which is 285 gsm / 72 lb paper.  It has a smooth (not slick) texture to it and is bright white, which I prefer.  

The site has specific information about their paper and my printer make and model (Epson XP-15000) as well as the program I use (Photoshop Elements 11) to print from.  The company provides printer paper profiles for each of their paper products and step by step instructions I was able to easily follow for installing these profiles on my computer and then a video showing the steps within my program for proper printer settings.

The results were better than those from my previous favorite paper!!!  I now have a new favorite!!

I was impressed by how quickly the company processed my online order.  I ordered after their cut-off time on Friday afternoon so I knew I would have to wait until Monday before it was even processed.  Monday I received an email stating my order was on its way with expected delivery by Wednesday (from Texas to Florida).  I chose their lowest priced shipping which ended up being via FedEx and not USPS.  

Also impressive was their packaging!!  It seems many companies these days do not take proper care in packaging things like this resulting in dinted corners or worse.  I've ordered reams of paper through various places and either paper corners are dented from bouncing around inside the box or the paper packaging around the sheets of paper busted at the seams (as in my last order from Staples).  Another issue is when at the businesses, people opening the cases using box cutters slice through the top reams (also from my last order from Staples) resulting in several sheets unusable for printing.  With Red River, that was not the case.

The paper I ordered came 50 sheets to a box...a nice sturdy box with lid that is sealed with shrink wrap (or whatever it's called).  They added a piece of cardboard for additional padding and packed in yet another box for shipping that fits tight around the box of paper (at least in my case with one box ordered).  Inside the paper box was an information sheet about the paper and general recommendations on using the paper in one's printer.

So by sharing this and anyone reading facing a choice in art printing paper, maybe consider this company.  And I'm sharing this strictly on my own behalf knowing what it was like with all the hours of research I went through to find this paper as well as the money spent on trial and error of other papers.  

Chrysalis Two Different Methods

One of our neighbors with children raise Monarchs and while Terry was out walking Miya, he was called over to check out butterflies emerging from their Chrysalis.  He came back to the house to get his camera and went back over taking pictures and learning more about the process.

This family plants Milkweed in pots to attract Monarchs.  Eggs are laid followed by the caterpillars.  These caterpillars are fed the leaves of the milkweed to keep them around so they create their Chrysalis in the plants.  The family moves these plants inside a pop up screened housing you can purchase for this purpose and enjoy the time when the Monarchs emerge.  The wife also created a board with rope they hang under their outside porch light.  It's evident that the family takes a few of the Chrysalis by hand and tie to the rope where they stay until the butterflies emerge.  

How neat for those children to be apart of that experience!!!  I learned a lot from this as well.

Terry was told this continues until around October so we have plenty of time should Terry follow through with trying this himself.

From photos, I worked these both digitally and in my sketchbook.  I wanted the digital to be more like how I work in my sketchbooks rather than in depth or formal like I've been doing lately in Procreate (like the portraits and flowers, etc.).

This follows one of the photos Terry took - using Procreate and Gouache brush tool for color work and BJD's Standard Inker for line work and writing.

Then I decided to split between two pages as seen in my handsewn journal using old stock of Fabriano Hotpress paper (140lb).  One page worked with Urban Grey in TWSBI 580ALR and the other using #41 Brown in another TWSBI 580ALR foutain pen (both with F nibs).

Side Note:  When I started working on the hotpress paper with my fountain pens, I didn't like the feel of the nib moving across the paper.  I've worked on hotpress before and do not remember this at all even with EF nibs.  It felt like I was trying to draw or write on a paper with a coating somewhat like you'd find on wax paper.  And whatever it was appeared to collect on the nib and cause thicker lines and tiny blobs I didn't like.  At first my lines were real light and when I went back over them, it's like the grooves the nib made on the paper grabbed the next pass of ink and was really dark.  Was really weird. 

The first page I worked (out of three) was like this and I stopped what I was doing leaving the sketch unfinished.  I may return to that page later.  I decided to work on the next page for the above illustrations/writing and it was different.  I didn't have the issues on either of the next two pages.  I'm wondering if when making the books oil or something didn't end up on that one page.  Or maybe the old stock of paper I used is inconsistent with its sizing properties.  I won't know until I continue using this journal book.

Art Journaling with a Purpose

I read today where someone was asking for advice dealing with creative blocks.  We all go through them and one way I've managed to work through those times is to view it in a positive by rethinking as "Recharge Periods."  Not so negative which can make us feel worse when those times hit.  Sometimes we just need a break and that's OK.

However, sometimes we develop negative thoughts in general and one of the biggest culprits in my hitting slumps or blocks has happened when this negative voice inside my head starts asking "why do I bother sketching and painting or what purpose does this have when all I do is work in sketchbooks or Ipad tucked away out of sight"?   Many teach, sell their work, or write books on what they do.  Their artwork has a purpose.  I'm not into any of these things except maybe sharing steps that might help another viewer from time to time.

My work has always been therapeutic and that was enough for the longest time.  Then over the last two years I found myself questioning this reason as being enough.  I struggled for months with that which only dampened my desire to do anything.  That's when I started working out creative ways to bring my work OUTSIDE the closed journals lining my bookshelf or hidden inside the Ipad as gifts and unique ways of displaying for myself and family here at home.

So when that negative voice tries to bring that question up again, it's time to squash it by stepping away from sketching and painting and doing something creative with what's already been done.

One of my favorite ways is by creating ATC size prints I can exchange with people or place in 2.5 x 3.5 magnetic photo sleeves for personal use and gifts to family members.

Last night and today I spent my time working on new ATCs to print since the last batch printed early 2020.  I place these throughout the house using file cabinets and refrigerator/freezers as art displays.  It adds a little something special to otherwise plain looking appliances and office furniture. 

Key Largo Souvenir Gift from Terry

When the guys returned from their trip to Key Largo, both came into the house bearing gifts.  Yesterday I shared the Iguana that Travis brought me and today is what Terry brought me.

This is an actual yard ornament that weighs quite a bit.  It's heavy as if made with concrete and yet the feel is resin.  Not sure what it's made of....maybe a combination of both.

Procreate - Gouache and soft air brush tool.  Rough skin brush tool used for a hint of texture here and there on the frogs.

Worked in black and white and then created another two layers with nothing but color and using the layer color blend mode.

Travis' Souvenir Gift from Key Largo

When the guys returned yesterday from Key Largo, they both had souvenir gifts brought back for me.

Travis brought back an iguana and Terry brought back a frog statue (to be sketched later).  They had tried to capture some pictures of iguanas but only saw two small ones and couldn't get photos taken quick enough.  So Travis bought the figurine for me.  Travis had seen it first snatching it up and Terry said had he seen it, he would have bought it for me.   Both the guys were on the same wave length as far as gift idea for me.....lol.

Procreate:  4B pencil for linework; BJD's standard inker for wording; soft air brush, gouache, crayon, and old skin brush tools used.

Two Different Fruit Growing - Two Different Methods

Attempting again to work in my journal, I managed this page of lemons at their early stage of growth.  I worked this thinking and writing about Terry and Travis as they headed to Key Largo for the first time.

Timing was evening before the sun set so there were no real shadows to capture.

Fabriano Artistico / TWSBI 580R w/#Urban Grey ink

This is the stage of our first grapefruit tree, which is a Ruby Red.  It was planted two years ago and I thought I'd do this before Terry pulls all the fruit off in order for the energy to feed the tree itself.  We read it's best to do this the first two years of growth.  Terry did say he might leave a few on the tree but hasn't made up his mind yet.

Procreate using the Gouache brush tool

This is early afternoon in very bright sun showing strong shadows from over-hanging leaves (as seen in top left leaf) and from the fruit itself on the leaves.

One of the positive attributes of working digital is the ability to render color pretty true to life.  Unlike fighting with paint trying to mix the right color and with me seldom hitting the right combination or mix.  The other major plus for me with digital is the blending attribute.  I can't say it enough how much I love blending.  You can take your time without fear of paint drying too fast as you try to blend your colors.

Although I do not plan on giving up on pen and ink and watercolor, I honestly feel I've found my niche in digital art.  Unlike other mediums that have both advantages and disadvantages, I have yet to find any disadvantage I can state with digital.  If there is a disadvantage to it, it's in how people (particularly traditional artists) might view it as an art form.  To me it's just another medium we have in being creative with its own set of techniques and challenges.  

For me, I feel so much more relaxed while at the same time challenged with selection of brush tools and how best to apply them for various textures and results I'm hoping for.  There is no fear of messing up and having to start over again (which I don't handle very well and often just say forget it).  You are free to experiment along the way without having to start fresh with each trial and error....just create a new layer and if it works, keep it and if it doesn't, delete the layers.  There's no rush trying to beat drying time for various techniques to work properly.  There's no long wait for paint to dry before being able to move to the next step.  And there's no frustration with color mixing to get the right color nor fear of mixing mud.  It does take more time (at least for me) in working these sketches/drawings versus using watercolor (as an example) but that's a positive for me.  There's no major set-up involved or space requirement for a work area...plus no clean-up afterwards.  You can work anywhere.

And as much as I love graphite, even rendering graphite digitally is a positive over traditional because there's no fear of smudging like traditional graphite.  I tend to often work right to left (which may sound strange to most people as I'm right handed) and I'm always dealing with smudges and having to clean up afterwards.  Then have to spray the page which can have mixed results depending on the spray I use.  I am very sensitive to smells/fumes, etc. and always have trouble even if spraying outside.  And here in Florida, spraying outside you might find a bug stuck to the page as it dries.  

So, yeah.........I'm finding I am leaning more towards grabbing the Ipad and Apple Pencil before pencil, pen, and brush on paper.

Catching Up Sharing Sketches

Think I'm heading into another possible "recharge period" I evidently need after being so productive the last few months.   Although it's been a push to do anything of late, I did manage these using Procreate.  I just haven't felt like messing with paper, ink, and paint so instead if the mood strikes me, I just grab my Ipad.

This is from what I could make out on hubby's favorite T-shirt.  With him being part Indian, things like this mean a lot to him.  I wanted to sketch the design before it completely faded away.

Peppermint brush tool and cloud brush tool.

I saw a post on Facebook where brother-in-law shared a moment back years ago when I sketched him a giraffe.  Giraffes are his favorite animal and when I saw the post, I went to my photos from 2009 when family went to Busch Gardens Safari.  Decided to work this as I love the expression!!

Several different brush tools as I was trying to find the right one for the effect I was hoping for.  I ended up using the water brush tool and 4B pencil tool plus some smudging.  Cloud brush tool for background and BJD's spatter brush tool with adjustments I made to it for a touch of texture.

This I worked through the night.  It represents Terry's first haircut after the pandemic hit March 2020.  His hair was long when I met him 20 plus years ago.  Upon a return trip from overseas, he surprised me with a hair cut and his pony tail saved to give me.  I kept it for years until Neal's cat got ahold of it.  He's kept his hair short from that point on until last year when the pandemic hit.

So yesterday Terry gets his hair cut and brought this home for me.

Procreate 4B pencil brush tool.

Side note:  Blogger is doing strange things........for some reason these won't open like normal when clicking on the images.

Follow by Email Being Discontinued

Thought I would make a post to inform those who follow my blog by email that after July 2021, that feature will be discontinued.  At this time, I have no idea what to suggest for those who rely on the email they have been getting when I add to the blog.

If any other blogger knows an alternative, I'd love to hear your feedback.

Off Day - Watercolor Sketch Failure vs Digital

After working on my Ipad, I wanted to do some work in my journal.  This started out with a pencil sketch which was off a bit on the two right flower buds.  Instead of doing what I normally do by going over the pencil with ink (correcting proportions or lines), erasing pencil, and then adding watercolor, I proceeded to add color first..........BIG Mistake.

Working right to left, as soon as I laid down some color over the graphite, I knew I was in trouble.  The graphite muddied the paint and I tried to over compensate resulting in the two buds being over worked.  Then thought maybe adding the ink lines might help.  Nope!!!  I didn't have those two sketched in correctly and the ink lines magnified that fact.

The two left flower buds I took my kneaded eraser shaping it like a rolling pin and rolled across the pencil lines picking up excess graphite hoping that might work better, and it did.  My state of mind was already "ehhhh" with what I was working on but pushed through it and finished painting.  Then added the ink lines.  I do not care for ink and wash with ink after color because it's too stark looking to my eyes.  If I'm going to work ink and wash, I want the ink lines down first.  I also prefer to "slap" on color to give life to ink sketches as I don't tend to over work my watercolor.

Being totally dissatisfied with how things turned out, I decided to work this again in Procreate.  The results for me were much better.  I love the ability to stroke and blend like one would using oil paint.  

With this digital, I worked differently than I normally do.  Instead of working multiple layers, I only worked on one.  It worked out OK but I prefer stacking layers working each color on its own layer as well as individual components.

My Orchid as of 04/11/21.  It didn't flower last year after being repotted in 2019.  This year it's flowering but flowers are deeper in color and smaller.  I only ended up with four buds with one appearing it may not open.  While the buds were forming, I lost two leaves.

Watercolor Sketch in Journal:

 

Procreate Version:  The color is better with it leaning towards purple.... not as pink as the watercolor version.  I never have liked mixing purple watercolor as it always looks dingy no matter the mix combination I choose to use.  Gouache brush tool was used exclusively for this to include smudging.

The pencil sketch I had worked in the journal was scanned before adding color.  I uploaded that scan to my Ipad and used it as my reference for the digital version.  At the same time, I had the photo on my computer for reference which helped with how off I was on the two right flower buds in my sketch.

As much as I have enjoyed watercolor in the past, I am finding myself feeling really hesitant in wanting to use watercolor anymore.  This is one reason if I want color, I find myself grabbing my Ipad instead.  I am also finding I prefer NOT to mimic ink and wash but instead leaving ink out altogether when painting on my Ipad using Procreate.

Another Rose from Neighbor

Yesterday our neighbor gave Terry Tai dumplings, Tea Eggs he makes, and a cake of some sort made from tea with a cream center.  The cake is green and you can definitely taste the tea.  The cream center is mildly sweet.  

Along with the food, our neighbor's wife cut a rose off their rose bush and gave to Terry to give to me.  These roses have a heavenly scent but do not last long once cut.  I like sketching these roses as this is my way of keeping them alive.

Procreate / Gouache brush tool

As a way of thanking them, I printed off the vase I painted that they gave me last year along with a painting of Bougainvillea that represents a memory of our neighbor's father before passing.  Thomas used to come over and tend to our Bougainvillea training it to climb the Oak tree that was out front.  I used one of the square acrylic photo blocks with the Bougainvillea showing on one side and the vase on the other.

Cross-Hatching Procreate vs Paper

Well, the jury's back............cross-hatching is proving to be my least favorite thing to do...at least with ballpoint.  If I have to do this much cross-hatching to fill in a subject, I prefer digital.  

As mentioned in a previous post, one doesn't have to worry about ink pooling resulting in ink blobs working digital.  You don't have to worry about constantly wiping the point on tissue which I find is disruptive in workflow.  One can set the opacity rather than totally relying on pressure holding a pen.  With the Apple pencil, you can use both to your advantage.  And due to the fact you don't have to rely on pressure, it's easier on the hand.

Not sure I will actually produce a portrait using cross-hatching as it would probably take me days versus hours to complete but that might change.  In comparing the two below, I do like the results of the pepper worked in Procreate but not sure I have THAT much patience to work something as complex as a portrait.  We shall see.  I do admit that this can be therapeutic....very relaxing (if not having to constantly worry about blobs).

 Just for fun, I took my original and added color blending mode layers to produce the following.

April 2021 Monthly Goal - Minimum One Digital

Practicing hatching and cross hatching, I worked this sketch using Procreate.  Inking / Gesinski ink brush tool.  Thought I would try a different ink brush tool for a change. 

I started out with brown and then sometime during my sketch, I in error ended up with black ink.  Turns out kind of neat considering the brown gives a warm tone that tends to lead my eye. 

Once I was finished with the ink sketch, I decided to play again with the color blending modes.

Hatching / Cross-Hatching Exercise

Today I started a new course by Robin Hilthouse - Portraits In Pen

The lessons start out going over the difference between cavities (craters as some might call them) and bumps on skin using cross-hatching.

As much as I love good ballpoint sketch results by artists, I am not sure I will be one to really get into using ballpoints too often.  I am finding right off that it takes a LOT of patience, which I am not sure I have enough for this process.  Ballpoint also causes me a bit of frustration due to ink pooling at the points and creating blobs on the paper.  Even wiping the pen often I find they still occur.  And the other issue I'm dealing with is hand fatigue, thumb/finger tingling, and cramping in my hand.  At first I thought it was just the BIC pen causing these issues but I'm quickly learning it doesn't matter which pen I use...the BIC or the Zebra.  What's funny is that the Apple Pencil, regular or mechanical pencils, and fountain pens do not do this to me unless I have been non-stop for hours at a time.  With the ballpoint, I'm lucky if I make it 15 to 20 minutes before having to stop and take a break.

This exercise I worked both with ballpoint in my Alpha sketchbook and also on the Ipad using Procreate.  I find it less taxing on my hand working on the Ipad versus pen to paper.  My lines are more consistent in value as I lay down each hatch mark.  It helps that I can change the opaque value where I don't have to totally rely on pen pressure like I have to with the ballpoint.  I normally have a light touch anyways but find with the ballpoint, my lines can sometimes go down darker than I want.  Major plus with the Ipad.......no blobs!!!

I will continue with the course and see how my feelings are later with regards to Ballpoint.  The major reason I wanted to take the course was to learn how other artists use hatching and cross-hatching which can be done in pen or pencil and even on the Ipad.

April 2021 Monthly Goal - Minimum One Pen and Ink

For my pen and ink, I decided to work with ballpoint.  Sometime this month I will be taking a course in ballpoint pen working portraits.  In the meantime, I wanted to play a bit with two different ballpoints I recently purchased for the course.  A BIC and a Zebra 4-color pen.

The BIC has four colors in medium point.  The Zebra has four colors plus a pencil lead.  The Zebra is a fine point pen.

First example is working on Fabriano Hotpress and the Beta fish is on regular bond paper.

What I found is that the Zebra tends to blob more easily, especially the green ink.  I’m not real thrilled with the green even in its hue tone with either pen.  Not very natural to my eyes.

The red is more vibrant in the Zebra whereas the blue is more vibrant in the BIC pen.

I prefer the Zebra over the BIC due to it having a fine point plus it’s more comfortable holding for any length of time.  My hand would start feeling fatigued and border of cramping using the BIC.

Monthly Goal - Minimum of One Graphite

Couple of nights ago when I removed the scrunchie from my hair, the idea hit me to sketch it in pencil.  A great practice with folds.  

Worked in Stillman and Birn Alpha sketchbook using Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencil .7

Normally I like using a tortillion or paper stump to blend for value shifts but chose to blend with the pencil lead itself and eraser to lift highlights to maintain texture.

Monthly Theme - April 2021

For April, the monthly theme chosen for me is "Things that Spray."  Rather than sketching your typical bottles or cans that spray, I chose my husband's pressure washer components, which include the nozzle, hand sprayer gun, extension wand, and two spray tips.

This takes care of the minimum requirement for the monthly theme (may work other ideas throughout the month) and my personal goal of minimum of one (1) Pen/Ink and Watercolor for the month.

Worked in journal with Fabriano Cold (old stock) / TWSBI 580ALR w/#41 Brown / Daniel Smith watercolors