Holly Swain Illustration

Paper Geeky

hollyswainillustration — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:13:17 +0000

As promised here is a post about paper. I had happily been using the same type of watercolour paper since college (Saunders and Waterford, Not, 140LB) but since experimenting with other pens and watercolours, I decided to test out some other papers. Here’s the results of my tests. I started by buying a pack of sample papers, (from Lawrences Art shop) I discarded some straight away for being too textured-not what I wanted and useless with a dip pen. In case you don’t know, paper is graded into three types, HP or Hot press -very smooth, Rough is the opposite and very textured, and Not which is inbetween the two. Paper also comes in weights, which here I’ve shown in LB.

On the test sheets, I tested how it was to draw on with a dip pen and how the paint went on and dried. The sheets with fewer experiments on were discarded earlier, where as those with more needed further experiments.

Sheet 1. Arches, RWS, and Fabriano all were very nice and I came back to these later. The Bockingford papers I didn’t like painting on and RWS 425 LB was just too absorbant.Sheet 2. The two most successful were the Saunders and Waterford papers, (though bizarrely my usual paper didn’t fare so well in the test, but I ignored it a bit on experience!) The heavier S.W paper was too absorbant. Archers rough took the paint nicely, but rubbish with the pen. Fabriano and RWS HP papers, I found the paint sort of slipped off.. it didn’t really soak in and wasn’t nice to paint on.Sheet 3. I didn’t like any of these. All hotpress and didn’t take the paint well, it left marks and wasn’t smooth.Sheet 4. More indepth trials on the favourites. RWS white, Not, 300LB. Nice to draw on and the paint went on nicely, but didn’t seem to dry very flat. Arches, 300LB Not, very nice. Paint went on well and good to draw on.Sheet 5. Fabriano 300LB Not. Nice with pen though scratchy. The paint sort of floats on the surface but dries very flat, I didn’t really like how the paint went on.Sheet 6. After trying them all none seemed as good overall as the Saunders and Waterford paper. I then discovered that they do white paper , so two more tests – both 140LB, both white S and W, and there wasn’t much in it! The HP paper was lovely to draw on and took the paint better than any of the other HP papers I tried. The Not worked ok with the dip pen, lovely to paint on .The deciding fact was that the paint colour seemed denser on the Not and that swung it for me. Very happy with it.

Some new things..

hollyswainillustration — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:28:35 +0000

Its been a couple of weeks since I’ve last posted, and I’ve been trying some new things. I’ve been experimenting with lots of different papers-more on that in a separate post-it could get very paper geeky-if there is such a thing! I’ve been trying a new pen -Rotring art pen-very nice (but why oh why, does the lid not fit on the end of the pen when you’re using it?? huge error!)

I’ve also been trying to write my own story. Its always been a dream of mine to write and illustrate a book, so I’m having a go. Its a big learning curve, but I’ve lots of ideas and you have to start somewhere! I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime heres some images that I’ve been meaning to add..

Pirate Day at The Book Nook

hollyswainillustration — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:12:25 +0000

It was Pirate Day at The Book Nook in Hove. Its an amazing independent shop with a fantastic selection of childrens books, lovely staff, tasty cafe and a very friendly atmosphere. They have loads of events and this saturday’s was a pirate theme. I was there doing some pirate drawing and there were lots of kids all in costume. Thank you to everyone, I had a great time and it was lovely to meet you all.

I drew a black & white Pirate colouring in sheet for the day. If you would like to download it for your kids, click below:

Its pirate day!

Happy New Year!

hollyswainillustration — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:20:28 +0000

It’s been a while, the run up to Christmas was busy.. but here’s a couple of new images.

Bird iceskating, never as easy as it looks (as I discovered this holiday!)

To all of you who have been blown about in the gales (and those who haven’t), Happy New Year ! May 2012 be a good one.

‘My Dads a Birdman’

hollyswainillustration — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:00:59 +0000

I’ve recently read ‘My Dad’s a Birdman‘ by David Almond. What an amazing book! So beautifully written and visual and touching and sensitive. I loved it. I’m now working my way through his other books, which are just as rich in imagery and extraordinary stories. The book is beautifully illustrated by the wonderful Polly Dunbar,but I wanted to have a go myself. So heres the first of a series I’m planning..

“They were made of feathers and string and bits of old shirt and bits of bamboo and wire and thread and cardboard and feathers and feathers and feathers…He stood on tiptoes. He dreamed of flying like a swallow, like a swift, like a hawk, high above the house..”

David Almond you are a superstar!

The Animal Olympics.

hollyswainillustration — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 12:42:11 +0000

I’ve just been playing with the idea of animals in the Olympics. So this could be the first of a few…I quite like the idea of some of the winter sports, but maybe thats just because its getting colder- actually a lot of my characters seem to be wearing more layers as the cold season approaches!

Its back to the ‘not’ watercolour paper- I didn’t get on with the other paper at all.

Happy Halloween!

hollyswainillustration — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:14 +0000

I’ve been doing some cards for birthdays. Happy belated birthday Hels!And Happy birthday Mum!I’ve been busy making rice krispie spiders and gory gingerbread skeletons for Halloween, but managed to fit in this little fella. I’m trying out HP paper too- not convinced so far,I think a few more experiments are in order.

Happy Halloween!

‘Contraption’

hollyswainillustration — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:22:54 +0000

Here’s a new picture for illustration Fridays topic, ‘Contraption’.

Bear in love

hollyswainillustration — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:49:08 +0000

Here’s an anniversary card I’ve just done. I’m still experimenting with watercolours, but finding them much easier to use than my concentrated Dr.Ph.Martin’s.I’ve been doing a number of ‘birds in jumpers’ sketches, and my husband thought these were funny so he tweeted them, (or is it twittered- not sure). It was suggested that I did a bird in a pringle tank top, so here it is, and on its way to you Nick, thanks for the suggestion!I could quite get into golf shoes…

Dip pen

hollyswainillustration — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:40:10 +0000

Its been a while, so here’s a bit of a catch up. I’ve been trying out some new things, mainly different types of line with a variety of pens and have ended up going back to my dip pen that I used to use long ago. I’ve also combined that with having a go at watercolours, rather than my usual concentrated watercolour inks, and I am loving it!

I’m even trying to brush up on computer skills, mainly so I can blog a bit more frequently, but also so I don’t get overtaken by my children’s knowledge. Kinda scary.