Having a Hoot With Hot Press and Sneak Peek

I have finally had opportunity to try hot pressed watercolour paper!

Hot pressed paper is satiny smooth - but not glossy...

Very similar to bristol board or poster board on it's surface

and the ability to lift colour off the paper is very good.

I and my favourite fine-tipped pens are rejoicing!!

I've been dragging my poor 

0.005mm Sakura Pigma Micron 

and 0.05mm Staedtler pigment liner pens

across the toothy dimpled surface of cold-pressed paper 

for the past few years as I add finishing touches on my illustrations 

and in so doing I have drastically shortened their normally decent lifespans!

 

The following illustrations are some fun "trying the paper out" doodles:

 

I love that the colours look richer/stronger on the hot pressed and the 

pen work can be so much bolder without fear of damaging the pens!

Woo-hooo!!!

I'm in the midst of a couple commission pieces right now

but still making time for doodling (as seen above) and

working on a big illustration just for fun...

Here are a few sneak peeks of my soon to be finished 'just for fun' illustration:

 

The field mice are up to something! Whatever could it be? 

...Flowers? ...Banners?  Hmmm.....

And is that a resident of Elderberry Hedge that you have not yet met?

All questions will be answered in the coming weeks!

♥ Cath-