Tag: Stillman & Birn

Sketches / Drawings / Paintings, Urban Sketching

Roman Baths

by Jane Hannah41 Comments on Roman Baths

My second day with Jane Blundell and her 5-day bootcamp and I have to say that it is quite wonderful… she is a natural teacher, knowledgeable,very nice and has a good rhythm. Not too many demos, always interesting information and we learn a ton! And it is pertinent information, not common or generic knowledge, which I appreciate -) Being a teacher myself, I am aware that teachers tend to be very fussy students –)

Guy and I went to the Roman Baths after the workshop today and we were impressed. It is funny.. when I was in Istanbul and Ephesus two years ago and we were visiting the ruins, these ruins belonged to the Greeks. Today I had the same feeling, to the Romans that arrived in 46 AD! However, as I am presently reading Rutherford’s Londinium book on the history of this city, I know that these ruins belong here and not elsewhere… reading is important for understanding our world.

Paper: Stillman & Birns
Colours: Naples Yellow, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine & Pyrrol Crimson Location: Pulteney Bridge, Bath, UK.

Sketches / Drawings / Paintings

Betula Alleghaniensis :: Yellow Birch :: Bouleau des Alléghanys :: Merisier

by Jane Hannah4 Comments on Betula Alleghaniensis :: Yellow Birch :: Bouleau des Alléghanys :: Merisier

L’un des plus grands arbres de la forêt laurentienne, où il atteint son maximum de développement. Le bois, très pesant, à grain serré, est très employé des machines aratoires, dans l’ébénisterie et la carrosserie. L’odeur aromatique de l’écorce blessé est la même que celle du Gaultheria procumbens “Teaberry” ou “Thé des bois”. Le tronc de cet arbre ne flotte pas, et l’espèce échappe ainsi à la dévastation amenée par l’industrie du papier; on ne coupe le B. Alleghaniensis que là on peut le transporter par voie de terre. Le nom populaire “merisier” est un pur canadianisme, et assez déroutant. 
— Flore Laurentienne par le Frère Marie-Victorin

This is an example of the type of information that you can find in this wonderful flora book pertaining to the indigenous species that live and thrive in the province of Quebec. Anyone who loves stories on plants and trees and history, it is must read. I have a few of these majestic trees on my two acre lot, and they are wonderful to paint and attract all kinds of wildlife. Their golden yellow trunk is luminous. The last two days have been wonderful… we stayed home, cleaned up part of our lot, made campfires and just relaxed… before the mosquitoes arrive -) I found an unused sketchbook of Stillman & Birn and wanted to commemorate the first page with a nice painting. I seem to be superstitious in the sense that if I ruin the first page of a sketchbook, I seem to think that the rest of the pages will be mediocre. I am glad that it turned out ok and the paper is wonderful.

Ce livre sur la flore laurentienne de Marie-Victorin est un véritable petit bijou de lecture, d’information sur les arbres et espèces indigènes et beaucoup d’histoire. Nous avons passé une très belle fin de semaine à s’occuper d’une partie de notre terrain, à faire des feux de camp, à relaxer… et peindre…. avant que les maringouins arrivent -) J’ai trouvé un livre à croquis de Stillman & Birn et pour la première page, je voulais réussir ma peinture car sans être superstitieuse, si je ruine la première page d’un livret, j’ai tendance à penser que les peintures suivantes vont être médiocres? Je suis contente qu’elle est ok et ce papier est magnifique.

Paper: Stillman & Birn, Beta Series, 180 lbs, CP
Colours: Raw Sienna, Rose Madder Genuine, French Ultramarine
Fountain Pen: Pilot Prera F
Ink: Noodlers’ Lexington Grey
Location: Rigaud, Québec, Canada

20140519_YellowBirch

Sketches / Drawings / Paintings

A very special Day :: Une journée bien spéciale

by Jane Hannah5 Comments on A very special Day :: Une journée bien spéciale

Today is my mother’s 88th birthday and her 62nd wedding anniversary with my Dad. My life is privileged, as both of my parents are still living, healthy and smart. So I wish you a Happy Birthday and a Wonderful Anniversary to both of you. So to celebrate this event, I painted this landscape (even though I know that my Mom hates winter). I was hoping that the corn fields would be showing some instances of grass peeking through, but in my neck of the woods, we are still covered in snow.

This day is also special because I have just finished my 6th sketchbook since I started on this journey in early 2012. I have gone through 3 Moleskines, 1 Strathmore, 1 Stillman & Birn and 1 Larolan Sketchbook and many loose leaf sheets.

C’est la fête de ma mère aujourd’hui et elle fête ses 88 ans! Mes parents fêtent aussi leur 62e anniversaire de mariage… quelle vie ;-) J’ai peint ce paysage pour cet événement, en espérant qu’il y aurait un peu de brins d’herbe qui apparaîtraient… mais dans mon coin de pays, tout est aussi blanc qu’en hiver… mais dans très peu de temps, les herbes vont apparaître. J’ai hâte!

Cette journée est aussi spéciale pour une toute autre raison. Je viens de finir mon 6e livret croquis. J’ai passé au travers de 3 Moleskines, 1 Strathmore, 1 Stillman & Birn et 1 Larolan depuis que j’ai commencé sur ce trajet artistique.

Colours: Cerulean Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Umber & Aureolin Yellow
Pen: Sailor Extra Fine Pen
Ink: Black Carbon Ink

20140414_WinterLandscape

Sketches / Drawings / Paintings

Old Shed :: Vieille shed

by Jane HannahLeave a Comment on Old Shed :: Vieille shed

I really seem to like old sheds, as they keep reappearing in my paintings. This artwork was done on Stillman & Birn Beta Series paper with black Carbon Ink and watercolours. The colours used were mostly Burnt Sienna, French Ultramarine and Burnt Orange.

This shed is on Fief Road in Rigaud and I am now just discovering its hidden gems.

J’aime bien ces vieilles sheds qui témoignent d’un temps passé. Celle-ci est sur le chemin Fief à Rigaud.

Watercolours: Winsor & Newton Artist watercolours & Daniel Smith
Paper: Stillman & Birn, Beta Series 140 lbs
Drawing Ink: Carbon Ink Fountain Pen with black Carbon Ink

Sketches / Drawings / Paintings

Rigaud Ground Moraine

by Jane HannahLeave a Comment on Rigaud Ground Moraine

I tried a new way of painting in my Stillman & Birn watercolour sketchbook. I applied a water wash on the sky and on the moraine and when I applied the paint after it had tried it was a blissful feeling. I think that this is what this paper likes. Had alot of trouble mixing the greys today… but I always have trouble with mixing the greys. I used French Ultramine with Burnt Sienna and Cerulean Blue with Cadmium Red Light and a tad of Yellow.

Voici la moraine sur la route 201 à Rigaud. La vraie peinture est tellement plus belle que ma version numérisée… hum… je vais devoir acheter un autre numériseur, mais j’hésite. Cet après-midi j’ai essayé une nouvelle technique pour peindre. J’ai mouillé la partie du ciel et de la moraine avec un pinceau et de l’eau. Pendant que j’essayais de trouver le bon ton de gris en mélangeant les couleurs, le papier a eu le temps de sécher, et la sensation de la peinture sur le paper était divine. Je crois que le papier Stillman & Birn aime cette technique.