Watercolor and Art Journals

The other day I got the most exciting package in the mail. 

It was some of the new art books and watercolor journals from Indigo Art Papers!

The cloth covered books and journals come in different colors.

You can't see it in the photo but the orange cover on my watercolor journal is all sparkly! And I love orange. 

The other really wonderful thing about the art journals is that they are hand sewn. There are two different types of journals. The larger wire bound journal has paper with 3 deckle edges and then the side of the paper that isn't is perforated so that when torn, will have a deckle edge as well. How cool is that? 

The other hand sewn journals also have 3 sides with the deckle edge.  The handmade paper is slightly thicker to be more durable.

Finally, there are art books (the small brown one) that has a thicker leather cover similar to moleskine books. Of course all the paper continues to be handmade.

Indigo is currently working on getting these books and journals with their handcrafted paper into stores near you.

In the meantime, I can't wait to get started on painting and drawing in my brand new art journals.

Happy New Year!

             Happy New Year from Indigo Art Papers! We have had a wonderful 2014 as we launched our handmade paper into the North American market. We are excited for the new possibilities that 2015 will bring. Our hope is that 2015 will be your most creative year yet as well as ours. Will you take the challenge with us and use Indigo Art Papers for whatever artistic inspiration you may have? Please upload any of your images to our Facebook Page. We would love to see what your creations!

It's Arrived!

Indigo Art Paper

Packs of 140lb 100% Cotton Paper

A couple of weeks ago I was able to pick up my first shipment of Indigo Art Papers all packaged up with the new labels. The labels are really nice, with the border color showing the different weights. Green for 140 lb, purple for the 210 lb, and blue for the 300 lb. There is a cotton plant on the label to identify the cotton paper and a flax plant (complete with a purple flower) on the cotton/flax blend to identify that paper. The logo on the plastic packaging is also a wonderful addition. 

I received an assortment of paper, both the cotton and the cotton/flax blend in all the various weights. The 140 lb and 210 lb papers both come as a pack of 5 sheets. The 300 lb is in packages of 3 sheets. 

It is so much fun receiving new stuff! I can't wait to start painting! 

Velvety Texture for Portraits

Attitude

Leslie Redhead

watercolor

16x20"

        Back in April of this year, I had the opportunity to demonstrate for Indigo Art Papers at the International Art Materials Association Show (NAMTA) in Pittsburgh. This was the official launch of Indigo where we showed how wonderful hand crafted paper can be. I had yet to do a portrait on the paper but decided that it was time to give it a try. 

        I did the above portrait, Attitude, on the 100% cotton, 650 gsm paper.  I must say, the paper was absolutely wonderful to work on. It was velvety, grabbed the paint perfectly, and stayed wet long enough for me to work wet-in-wet, yet not too long to get me into trouble. The warmth of the paper also added to the warmth of the model's complexion.But the very best part was the texture created when painting the hair. 

You can see how the texture of the paper added to the feel of the model's frizzy hair. It was a wonderful surprise. And I love surprises!

The Allure of Indigo Art Papers

This was first posted on Leslie Redhead Watercolors Blog on December 10, 2013.

This has been reposted with her permission.

The Life of Richard Parker

16x20"

Painted on Indigo Handmade Paper

A couple of months ago, I received a special preview on a new paper product from Indigo Artpapers. 

This preview really came at a perfect time for me. My favorite paper has always been Arches but I have recently noticed a change in their paper. The sizing seemed patchy and the paper didn't absorb the same way. It was very frustrating. At first, I thought I had a bad batch but each time I bought some more of the Arches paper, the same problems continued to happen! Then I heard that Arches was sold out to Canson. Somehow and someway, the paper has changed and I was not happy about it. So I have been trying out different types of paper to find the perfect one. In this search for paper, I have considered switching from the mouldmade, such as Arches, to handmade paper. Then Indigo Artpapers, a manufacturer of handmade watercolor paper contacted me and requested that I give their paper a try. I was very happy to accommodate this request. 

I also investigated the company a bit more. Indigo Artpapers is located in Canada and distributes the handmade paper made in the family's mill in India. There are 2 types of paper. One is made from 100%  high quality cotton rag and the other one is 75% cotton, 25% flax fiber. They are both archival and acid free. The most wonderful thing about the paper and the company is that they emphasize their environmentally friendly process. They are a "Green" company that doesn't use bleach like most paper companies use. I like this because I often refer to myself as an "eco-artist" since watercolor is one of the most environmentally friendly of all the painting media out there. 

I was very interested in trying out this new paper. Since the paper does not use bleach, there is an off white color to it. At first this seemed intimidating but I quickly discovered what a nice warmth it gave to each of my pieces. (I have completed 4 paintings so far and starting on another one! The Life of Richard Parker is one of them) Besides, the slight ivory color becomes less noticeable as color is added to the paper. I also discovered how luxurious it feels to paint on handmade paper. I know several watercolor artists that paint on handmade paper and they have told me that I will never go back. It felt like I was really treating myself to something special. A bubble bath instead of a shower. Hand-dipped chocolates instead of the Halloween leftovers. A real fire instead of the Shaw cable log. It was heavenly!

I have tried the 100% cotton paper and the cotton/flax blend and enjoy both of them. Although I will admit that 3 of the 4 paintings I've done are on the 100% cotton. Some habits just die hard. The paper does have some wonderful characters to it that adds appeal to the painting. This handmade paper is thicker and richer with its beautiful long fibers and I especially love the deckle edges! (Because of the deckle edges, please do not tape over them) It also feels like I am in collaboration with another artist by using this paper. An artist that took great care and pride in making this paper for me. One that values our world and the environment that we live in. An artist that has used their hands and their heart to create something special. 

Indigo Artpapers will be supplying their handmade paper to art stores in the near future. More information about the paper and their process can be found on their website by clicking here.

In the meantime, I know what I want for Christmas:  More Handmade Paper!!