Hints, tips, 'how to' and helpful information on some of our products. Dip pens, Ink and it's use,  Gum Ammoniac and Auto-pens, Zest-it.

Zest-it
The Zest-it web site is dedicated to Oil painting, not just the Zest-it product range, although lot's of useful information can be found there, but also many aspects of oil painting. www.zest-it.com

C. Roberson & Co Ltd
Many of the products we carry in the shop are manufactured by this company, they have a web site at www.robco.co.uk , but because they are a trade only supplier the information many not be very useful to you.

LeFranc and Bourgeois
LeFranc make an excellent range of Oil paint, that is of a much softer consistency, than that normally found with oil paint. The strength and saturation of the pigment throughout the range is superior to many and a little goes a long way. If you like to work in a 'painterly' manner, with lot's of impasto, then these oils many not be for you, but if you like lots of detail then they could be a good choice. This link will take you to their oil paint page , there is also a downloadable colour chart.

Pelikan Ink
This link will take you to the question and answer pages on their site, about Pelikan 4001 ink there is very little about Drawing Ink A - not an easy site to find your way around.

St. Cuthbert's Paper Mill
Take a tour of the St. Cuthbert's paper mill where they make Saunders Waterford and Bockingford watercolour papers.
 

Links to Web sites:

Jacqui Blackman's Web site www.jacquiblackman.co.uk
These various links open in a new window and will take you to pages about:-
Gouache   Blending Coloured Pencils     details of all  the Penman Ink range

Barbe and Bald Web site www.baldsbalm.co.uk/index.php
Here you can read more about Balds furniture balm and wax.

Artizan Editions Web site www.artizaneditions.co.uk
An insight into the screen printing process with oil based inks.

UK Coloured Pencil Society Web site www.ukcps.co.uk
Web site dedicated to work with Coloured Pencils including hints' tips and techniques.

Eraser Carver erasercarver.wordpress.com/
Eraser carving and block printing - she uses our lino cutter blades

Links to Pen Nib and Calligraphy sites:

History of Pen nibs made in Birmingham www.penroom.co.uk
The Museum offers 'hands on' so you can try out quills and pens, classes are also available.

Tour of the Joseph Gillott Factory: Gillott Factory tour
Interesting site about the Joseph Gillott factory and pen making in the late 1800's. Gillott's main concentration was on nibs for artists and calligraphers.

The Main Pen Nib makers: jquarter.pentrade.htm
Click on Pen Trade this tells how the nibs were made and a little history of the main pen makers.

Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society www.clas.co.uk/
To promote the study, practice and teaching of Calligraphy and Lettering.

Links to General sites:

Wannalearn Web site  www.wannalearn.com
Good site to try when looking for techniques in different media.

Dales Craft Web Site www.dalescraft.com
An excellent site for Sycamore and other wood blanks for painting and pyrography. Online shop.