"No one knows the true origin of this term, which dates to the early 1700s. Some trace "bamboozle" to the Scottish "bumbaze," meaning "to confuse or mystify," while 1920s etymologist Ernest Weekley weakly suggested it comes from the French "embabuiner," meaning "to make a baboon of."
Whatever it means it's word that I especially like. And today it seems very appropriate as I'm playing with bamboo watercolour paper, which I tracked down a while ago and haven't had time to try ..
The paper which I'm using is made by the German fine art paper company Hahnemuhle. Hahnemuhle has been committing to producing sustainable art papers, and began to make bamboo paper in the 1980s.
The paper is made (obviously ) from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton, is acid free and , of course , made from a renewable , sustainable material.
It's a very smooth paper, I suspect hot pressed, which means that the paper pulp is squeezed through heavy rollers whilst hot and turns out with a delicious silky finish.
The watercolour paint behaves in quite a different way on this paper from the Fabriano which I usually use (which is 100% cotton). Colours mix freely and softly and seem to stay quite vibrant even when dry. It does take a lot longer to dry than cotton paper - this one will have to wait til tomorrow for me to finish with some dark washes.
I haven't found myself painting any baboons yet, but I thank that I can safely say that it's easy to paint in a mystifying manner on bamboo paper. what do you reckon?
PS. if you'd like to try it yourself you can source it at www.gordonharris.co.nz
Whatever it means it's word that I especially like. And today it seems very appropriate as I'm playing with bamboo watercolour paper, which I tracked down a while ago and haven't had time to try ..
The paper which I'm using is made by the German fine art paper company Hahnemuhle. Hahnemuhle has been committing to producing sustainable art papers, and began to make bamboo paper in the 1980s.
The paper is made (obviously ) from 90% bamboo fibres and 10% cotton, is acid free and , of course , made from a renewable , sustainable material.
It's a very smooth paper, I suspect hot pressed, which means that the paper pulp is squeezed through heavy rollers whilst hot and turns out with a delicious silky finish.
The watercolour paint behaves in quite a different way on this paper from the Fabriano which I usually use (which is 100% cotton). Colours mix freely and softly and seem to stay quite vibrant even when dry. It does take a lot longer to dry than cotton paper - this one will have to wait til tomorrow for me to finish with some dark washes.
I haven't found myself painting any baboons yet, but I thank that I can safely say that it's easy to paint in a mystifying manner on bamboo paper. what do you reckon?
PS. if you'd like to try it yourself you can source it at www.gordonharris.co.nz
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