St Cuthberts Mill : Testimonial: Edo Hannema on Bockingford

Ambassador Edo Hannema’s passion is for painting landscapes, with calm water and expansive Dutch skies playing a dominant role in his paintings. Edo loves painting on Bockingford, Saunders Waterford, and Millford paper. Here Edo shares some of his techniques when painting on Bockingford.

“Bockingford is a cellulose paper available in various weights and in different colours. It is available in Cold Pressed, Hot Pressed and Rough.

I love this paper a lot because it is a special paper! For painting, I use the 425gsm (200lb), but for sketches, the 300 gsm (140lb) is wonderful too.

'Last Snow of April' on Bockingford CP (NOT) 425gsm (200lb)

I love painting on Bockingford paper because it is so easy to make back runs. When you apply a wash, feed a bit of extra water in some parts and let it dry. You get texture you would never be able to make with a brush. On cotton paper it is very difficult to create these effects - of course, it can be done - but Bockingford is wonderful to use these techniques for. Also, when you have a small part applied with a brush, and you feed it some extra clean water you get a nice edge of pigment on that spot.

Bockingford is also perfect for a wet-into-wet technique. When you apply the first wash, you must wait to make a second layer when the paper is bone dry. The best way is to paint thicker or darker mixes over thin layers.

'A Walk Over The Old Ways' Bockingford CP 425 gsm (200lb)

I always explain to other artists that Bockingford needs a different approach than 100% cotton paper. The difference between the papers is how they take up the water and pigment. Bockingford has a harder surface and the pigment will not be taken up by the paper as much as Saunders Waterford would. But I love all of them.

Edward Wesson and James Fletcher Watson painted a lot on Bockingford 425gsm (200lb). So, when I use Bockingford, I know I am in the company of these fabulous artists.”