Hey, I was wondering if this would work for mixed media projects as well. You can do it either way. Just a small slit that would allow you to insert the blade in between the paper and the gatorboard.. Stretching watercolor paper keeps it from buckling while you are painting on it. #4. Using a large brush, saturate the front of the sheet completely with water (you can’t use too much, so be generous). If you didn't stretch your paper to begin with and have annoying wrinkles in your otherwise fabulous painting, I use the spray bottle procedure only on the back of the painting and stretch it that way. Method 2 – Stretching paper to use immediately. She suggested we may want to use gatorboard. However, if you plan to leave the paper on the back support permanently, I would think the varnish would work fine. I’m looking for suggestions for a good board to stretch watercolor paper on. I stretch my paper in the easiest way possible (for me). This is typically done on lighter-weight watercolor sheets to stop the paper from buckling when wet media is applied to the surface. Fredrix® Watercolor Canvas Tips and Techniques by Anne Brodie Hill ASMA, GWS. I'm not sure how varnish will work on the paper once you take it off of the back support. Sturdy board that won’t bend or warp that is just larger than your sheet – examples: Soak the sheet in a tray of clean, cold water. See our. Soaking the paper for more than 10 minutes could wash away all the sizing. I spray it and brush it just as before while being careful not to let the water run under the edges of the paper and ruin the front painting. Help! The one you choose will have a lot … Hope this helps. I'll either staple the edges down or sometimes I just use push pins from an office supply. 3. But you might have a few watercolor paintings on paper, that are already done and that you would like to mount on paper. Soak the watercolor paper with clean water. Here is how to do it. I didn’t do it for a very long time, but it really may change your watercolor painting experience. Simply soak your paper for 5-10 minutes. Your moist mediums, such as spray paint and airbrushing, could make the paper buckle while you are working on it so I would definitely try stretching your paper first, especially on larger works like a full sheet. That's very helpful. You may have heard the term "Stretch Your Watercolor Paper". 0 0. maryalink. After the paper was completely dry, I completed my painting. What is Watercolor Canvas? paper (even though it usually doesn't require stretching) and it still becomes limp. Sheets that are 140lb/300gsm or heavier can soak up to 8 minutes. I kept some of the smaller prototypes. Turn the paper over and do the same on the back side. Pull the sheet through the water multiple times until each part has been fully submerged and the sheet is evenly soaked. Square the paper on the board and make sure any air pockets under the paper are eliminated. Any and all info is much appreciated. Once the painting has become limp, I flip it over with the painting side up. Stretching Paper on a Wood Frame by Marvin Chew (mchew) The last one shows how to make an inexpensive wood frame to use with your paper. You can avoid having to stretch watercolor paper by using heavy-weight paper (300 lb) that won't buckle when it gets wet (unless you totally soak it). Visit Strathmore Artist Papers's profile on Pinterest. The comfort of painting on a flat surface and having a flat painting when it’s finished is worth all the preparation. Sketch out your final drawing on dry paper. Help! All emails include an unsubscribe link. Cut away from the painted side. Wetting the paper under the tap. Posted by DryFlyWaters.com at 9:49 AM No comments: Labels: gator board, Gator board foam, gatorboard, gatorfoam, Stretching Watercolor Paper. 1 decade ago. In my photo you see that I have a drawing already on the paper--you can draw it first and then stretch it or stretch the paper first and then draw. Watercolorists use these boards to provide a hard surface on which to mount watercolor paper before beginning a painting. 300 pound paper gets expensive, so many watercolor artists buy 140- pound paper and stretch it to a hard surface. Hello! Turn the sheet back over and let it sit face up for about 15 minutes. Stretching watercolor paper is not super necessary, but it may help tremendously. To hurry up the drying, some people use a paper towel roll across the surface to remove some of the moisture after the stapling is completed. Check this box if you want email updates when people comment on this post, Watercolor Designs, LLC ~ Judy Mudd ~ (502) 550-1827, Paint Yourself a Valentine! It’s a good idea to stretch your watercolor paper before you begin the actual painting or it will tend to buckle a lot when really wet washes are applied. The finished, dried painting must be removed without cutting the Gatorfoam Board, so a shallow angle of a snap knife in the little air pocket line around the edge of the … Attaching the Paper to a Board Lay the paper flat on the board. If you’ve ever painted a beautiful watercolor scenery only for your paper to buckle and warp as it dries, then you’ve experienced the frustration of every beginning watercolor artist. This is where it is most advisable to insert the cutter, working at a very low angle, almost flat. I've just never known how to go about it. Just fill it with room temperature water and soak your paper. Turn the paper over and do the same on the back side. Carefully drain the water and place the soaked sheet on a clean, sturdy board. Just tape, tack or staple your watercolor paper to the board to keep it flat. If it is a simple drawing like a street scene, I'll go ahead and draw directly on the paper. GATORBOARD FOME BOARD - The watercolorist's choice for stretching paper. With both screws loosened stretch one side bar, then retighten To stretch your board this way – simple placing your watercolor paper – flat against a wooden board and taping all the edges down with masking tape. Jerry's Lightweight Watercolor Boards - Gatorfoam Board Made of 3/4" thick extra sturdy boards which feature a white coated paper surface on both sides and a foam center. You then fix the edges of the paper so that when it dries and contracts the surface is pulled tight like a drum. If you want a crisp drawing, doing it after the paper has been stretched, stapled and dried is the best way to go. Once the paper is dry, I use white artist tape or beige masking tape to cover the staples and paper edges. Just gently move the water over the surface and you shouldn't lose the sizing. But this paper is far more expensive. There are four faults that are the most common reasons for failure when stretching paper: The paper has not soaked long enough. Use either in a CLEAN waterproof tub, or hold the paper under a stream of warm running … Some artists will tape and staple dry watercolor sheets down to the backing board to minimize buckling. I personally have several boards including one made of plexiglas from a DIY store and I use 1.5–2″ masking tape to hold my 140 lb. Tips for Using Gatorboard to Stretch Watercolor Paper The following are some quick tips on how to properly use gatorboard for stretching watercolor paper: 1. See in the photo how wet the paper still is after the stapling is finished. Learn techniques from experienced artists through online videos and downloadable instructions.register today! Using a large brush, saturate the front of the sheet completely with water (you can’t use too much, so be generous). Replies. But this paper is far more expensive. Sheets that are 90lb/190gsm or lighter can soak for about 3 minutes. You don't have to stretch it. I keep turning and stapling until I've gotten all the way to the corners and everything is stapled down. I think that about a 8-10 minute soak is ideal for stretching 140# Arches paper. Source(s): bfa in painting. So, when I do get wrinkles in a painting that is worth keeping, I have a stretching remedy that I'll share at the end of this tutorial. You can see my stapler in the photo--very old but works great. Running paper under the tap will not be sufficient to soak it. There are other methods of holding the edges firmly to the board. When I removed the plastic pieces from the groves, the watercolor paper popped off the stretching board. When paper is thoroughly soaked, lay it on the Gatorboard. First, if you plan to paint a drawing of your subject, create your drawing on the paper first. A simple watercolor stretcher by Michael Mott : A finished project. The varnish may crack if it is thick. Hi Judy! You may opt-out at any time. What an outstanding way to stretch watercolor paper! Create your painting while the sheet is still taped to the board. I kept some of the smaller prototypes. Thanks for the response. 3. See our privacy policy. I used birthday candles to apply a wax coating in the grooves and tapped the wet paper into place. Lay your sheet of watercolor paper over the board. I didn’t do it for a very long time, but it really may change your watercolor painting experience. If you have a tub that can hold the paper, that's great. I’m looking for suggestions for a good board to stretch watercolor paper on. Place the blotted paper onto your foamboard taking care to ensure it lays flat. Also, if I know what I'm painting will not involve lots of loose, wet paint, I'll skip it. After a lot of experimenting with different techniques, however, I finally settled on using blue painter’s tape (like this stuff) to stretch my paper. Watercolor paper mounting supplies. Using 300 lb paper is costly, but will eliminate a lot of the curling. Lightly wet gummed paper tape or butcher tape with a sponge or paintbrush (do not soak or use too much water on the tape as it will wash away the adhesive). Carefully drain the water and place the soaked sheet on a clean, sturdy board. Either way works. Hi. Customer Review ... Canson Plein Air Watercolor Art Board Pad for Watercolor, Ink, Gouache and Acrylic, 12 x 16 Inch, Set of 10 Boards. I started out using lapboards as a stretching surface, but have found corrugated plastic Gatorboard (like political sign boards) to be superior- non absorbent, will not splinter, lightweight, very cheap, can easily … How to stretch watercolor paper Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: first you soak the paper, then you stretch it. Blot the paper (never rub) till it’s lost its watery shine. Start your painting while the sheet is still damp. The comfort of painting on a flat surface and having a flat painting when it’s finished is worth all the preparation. Hi Mychele, if what you need is the paper stretched and without buckling while you work on it, then yes this should work for you as well. Many artists soak or stretch their watercolor paper prior to painting. You can stretch the paper a day in … If you want to keep the existing edge of the paper, you can re-wet the tape and very carefully pull it up from the paper. It is not necessary for 300-pound paper, but lesser weights of paper will immediately start buckling as soon as you add a wash to them. For convenience, I’m just looking to just purchase something online, rather than making one myself. The underlying moisture keeps the paper stuck tight against the board while you do the painting. I now have a tub in my studio, but what I used for years was a good old spray bottle and a mop or hake brush. Lily Pads on One Mile Lake has been painted on paper that had been previously mounted on board. Lay the soaked watercolor paper on top of your paper towels, then put one more layer of towels on top of the paper. I use a gatorboard to stretch my paper. The kind of board you use is … Turn the sheet back over and let it sit face up for about 15 minutes. Stretching Watercolor Paper. One of the reasons I believe is that the paper is not actually stretched at all, but held at its maximum expansion … Warp resistant board perfect for photo mounting, screen printing and stretching watercolor paper. 2. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. If you see it beginning to dry, spray it again to keep it moist. That being said, I use it to prepare or stretch watercolor paper. If the paper fails to stretch you can reuse it by cutting it off the board and going through the soaking and stretching process again. The answer is, you don't. You have to ways of mounting watercolor paper on board: You can do it with your white paper,let it dry and then paint afterwards.This technique has the advantage of stretching your paper at the same time you are mounting it. Large clean tray for water: tray should have one dimension slightly longer than the smallest dimension of your sheet. Awesome! ® used under license from Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. We do not sell your information or use it for any other purpose than to email you our quarterly Artist Newsletter. Avg. Square the paper on the board and make sure any air pockets under the paper are eliminated. How you do that is keep it saturated with water, on both sides, for 15-20 minutes. paper to a board when I am doing a painting. For help with how to stretch watercolour paper read this earlier blog post Stretching Watercolour Paper for a Better Painting Experience. I was looking up different types of boards to use for stretching paper using staples and came across your blog. Click here to see … She suggested we may want to use gatorboard. Use a … Watercolor tape is not meant to be removed from the paper- you are intended to cut your paper away- which does not work for my method of creating watercolor comics. Gator Board Natural/Kraft 18"x24" 3/16" 10 … If varnish protects the front, will the paper still conform to what it's being stretched to? Roll 2 layers of clean paper towel over the sheet of paper and firmly press on all areas of the sheet to soak up any excess water. Why you should mount watercolor paper: It’s important because before you can begin painting you need to make sure your paper won’t buckle, or ripple, when you add water and paint to it.Quick announcement … Find out what the Strathmore SERIES numbers mean? I flip the paper over, and spray that side--again, brushing evenly and including the edges. It will have a contour pressed on the tape. One method, which actually uses staples to hold the edges of the paper to the board, is the best and most reliable way of keeping your paper from buckling while painting. I usually like to mount paper on board before I start painting as this allows me to stretch it in the process of mounting it. The more affordable the better for me I’m mostly starting out with 10×14 sheets but would like to get a bigger board for when I move on to larger paintings. Fill up the tray or your bucket with cold, distilled water. The sizing in the paper is what keeps the paint from absorbing all the way through the paper. For convenience, I’m just looking to just purchase something online, rather than making one myself. $21.78 $ 21. Note: before I wet my paper I make a sketch and remove the excess graphite with a kneaded eraser. The Otto Paper Stretcher is the easiest way to stretch watercolor paper without tacks or tape. Join renowned professional portrait artist Paul McCormack as he demonstrates how to properly stretch watercolor paper, with light wood and a staple gun, in this … After about 20 minutes, the paper should be limp and pliable--I've even used this procedure on 300 lb. By Michelle Morris in Art Tutorials > Painting Tutorials In my last article on watercolor supplies I forgot to include a mounting surface in the supply list. This system will leave no holes in the deckle, and is easy enough to use that artists of all ages will be delighted. You can usually tell where the watercolor paper is under the tape. When I removed the plastic pieces from the groves, the watercolor paper popped off the stretching board. I make sure the paper is still laying down properly and I start to work out away from the side center staples, stapling about an inch out on either side of the center staple. I will lay my paper on a board, wet the tape and secure 1/2 inch of the paper to the board for all four sides. If you've ever painted on paper, you've likely experienced it warping or buckling during the drying process. So, the best way to stop this from happening is to stretch your paper. Smaller paper sheets can be taped down as they are, without going through a stretching process. After your painting is completely dry, cut away the taped edges using a ruler and an X-acto knife. Gatorfoam Board is comprised of extruded polystyrene foam bonded between two layers of wood-fiber veneer, lightweight, durable making it great for stretching watercolor paper. One of these methods involves you letting the paint dry overnight whereas the … Watercolor Paper; Craft Hardboard; Craft Foam See All 8 Departments. For example, if you’re using an 11”x15” sheet of paper, your tray should be just over 11” on one side, If you don’t have a tray, you can use a spray bottle instead. Place along all four outer edges of the paper, covering just about ¼” of the paper. Now, for those already completed paintings with wrinkles. The "up" side should have more sizing so I try to use it but I often paint on either side of the paper. The other side remains dry, causing bowing and buckling. A Masonite (hardboard) drawing … It totally depends on what weight paper you use and whether the paper buckling while you paint bothers you. Two, I don't want paint to seep under the paper edges. It will dry tight as a drum. And three, I just like a clean, white edge once the painting is complete. If the board is too thin, the pressure created by the paper shrinking will actually warp the board. Use a spray bottle with clean water to fully soak both sides of the sheet. It works really well for relatively small pieces. Why & how should it be done? Or use a projector? Once the paper is dry, it will be stretched tight on the board and will not warp when watercolor is added. Someplace in these discussions I saw somebody say that you don't soak and stretch when using gatorboard. I wet the back of the paper with a big flat brush and clean water, then I wet the front and I staple the paper to my gatorboard on four sides. BUT HOW DO YOU STRETCH YOUR PAPER. (Not that you'll need a piece of gatorboard a little larger than the paper you want to stretch, a regular household stapler and a water source.) Enter your email below to never miss an issue! Online Watercolor Workshop - Sidewalk Scenes, NEW! You can use a 2" wash brush, a clean sponge, or you can soak it in your tub. Note: you can stretch heavier weight watercolor paper if you want to. It takes a little longer to stretch because you are only soaking one side so allow extra time. This does not mean: you will make your paper last longer, nor does it mean you are grabbing it's little paper arms and helping it stretch. artist 69 Alternatively, you can mount your painting after it … If you work on the 300 lb. I turn the board, and do the next side, stapling 1 inch on either side of the center staple. There are so many opinions and tutorials on how to stretch watercolor paper. The advantage of stretching you paper ... Today I am going to show you how to stretch your watercolor paper so it will stay perfectly flat when you paint on it. Lay it on your board and dry the top surface of the paper completely with a paper towel. Gator Board Foam - The Advantage of Light Weight Watercolor Stretching Board. Soak your paper before stretching The first step in stretching watercolor paper it is to soak each sheet in a tub of cold water. Also, how do you go about drawing before painting?