This is almost like cardboard ! When stretching wet paper, be sure the frame is at least 2 inches smaller than the paper … Repeat the process until the paper is fully soaked. The thickness of the paper will affect the amount of time needed for soaking a sheet. But did you know they make thick watercolor paper with a weight of 300 lb / 640 gsm? All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published, This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. If you soak too long the internal sizing will wash away. Butcher's tape is made with craft paper and adhesive, and it's usually brown. 24 hours is a good average but you should test the paper to check if it still seems cold or damp before using it. If the paper is heavyweight and high-quality and you don't intend to use large washes, then you don't have to stretch the paper (though stretching it anyway will give you more freedom to use more water at your discretion). You staple canvas or paper around it to stretch it out. Learn more... Stretching your watercolor paper is an important step because it keeps the paper from wrinkling when you paint. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Lay the soaked paper onto your chosen support and if needed, make sure it’s flat by chasing out any air pockets using a clean sponge. So you didn’t stretch your paper and now your painting is all wonky ? How to stretch watercolour paper. Once you have a lovely piece of flat watercolor paper you can paint on it using as much water as you like safe in the knowledge that it will dry flat again. Arches is one of the best brands. On the other hand if you don’t soak enough, the paper will dry flat and taut, but when you add watercolor washes it may still buckle. It totally depends on what weight paper you use and whether the paper buckling while you paint bothers you. Does it need to be stretched? Stretch paper only when necessary and when it suits your painting preferences. ​Most artists stretch their paper to overcome warping. Not to worry. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Can you stretch watercolor paper? Gummed tape is a better option than masking tape. I started this website to share everything I've learned about watercolors in the hopes that it might help & inspire others to pursue the same creative voyage. You can stretch the paper a day in advance for a perfect, smooth finish, or if you're in a hurry, wet the paper a few minutes before you start painting. Commercial watercolor paper is also treated to alter its absorbency and improve its handling. I find that watercolor blocks still buckle when painting with heavy washes, but the paper flattens when it dries. How-To Stretch Paper. I use Arches watercolor paper most of the time and I find this is sufficient. Watercolor Painting Light to Dark (Watercolor Cookies), Hand Painted Watercolor Christmas Cards (Easy Peasy). But I’ve found there are a few different ways to do this. Create your painting while the sheet is still taped to the board. Plus as a bonus, I’ll even suggest how you can avoid stretching paper altogether ! Feel free to give it a go, but frankly I wouldn't recommend this technique. The first step in paper stretching is soaking the paper. Good quality watercolor paper is made from 100% cotton fibers. If you soak too much, the paper expands considerably. Canvas frame or stretcher bars (lightweight and cheap). If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. For example left and right, then top and bottom. Go over the paper a couple of times to make sure the whole surface is dampened. The paper is made from cellulose fibres from various sources and these relax and lengthen quite a bit when they get wet, leading to paper cockling. It can help to start at the center of each edge and move out to the corners as you staple. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. The board has grooves around the edges. This is pretty annoying because as you continue to paint, pigment tends to run into the low valleys and settle in pools. Using gum tape to stretch watercolor paper The most common, certainly in the past, was to thoroughly wet your paper for about 15 minutes. You begin by wetting the paper. It’s good to use a board which is at least 1” larger on all sides than your sheet of paper. http://emptyeasel.com/2015/01/08/how-to-stretch-watercolor-paper-before-painting-a-must-read/, https://watercolorpainting.com/stretching-paper-bucking-the-buckle/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The paper expands when wet, then when blow dried it seems to go back to a flat surface. The simplest stretching process consists of pasting or tacking the edges of a wet sheet of paper to a wooden drawing board or stretching frame, causing the paper to shrink smooth and tight as it dries. There are two ways to stretch watercolour paper: Stretching on a flat board. So it would be a good method if you’re in a hurry. You then pick it up and allow most of the surface water to drip down off the paper. They expand when wet, then contract again when drying. Also take this time to smooth out extra water. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. The whole process is done directly on the board and with less water, so it’s a bit less messy. To […] If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Just like the last method, use force but don’t soak up all the water. This is probably the most common method. But even watercolor paper expands when it becomes wet. To remove your painting cut around the edges of the sheet using a sharp craft knife. Hi, I'm Anthony. The answer is, you don't. Press it firmly across the paper to soak up any excess water. Cool water helps the paper keep its sizing. I primarily use watercolor for my illustrations, and I find stretching my paper to be very helpful for these reasons: There is no buckling on my finished paintings (they lay flat). You can put your prepared board onto a light box or up against a window. There a different ways to fasten the paper down to the board or frame. There are so many opinions and tutorials on how to stretch watercolor paper. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Place the canvas frame in the center of the sheet and wrap the paper around the back edge of the frame. If you’re a perfectionist you can draw some pencil guidelines about a ¼” around the inside edges of your paper. The method used to manufacture commercial paper causes the paper fibers to align in the same direction. Stretching you watercolour paper means that it will remain flat for the time that you are painting on it. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. One of the hardest concepts to grasp as a beginner was WHY I would want to stretch watercolor paper. So you're ready to make a dent in the world of watercolors ? Primarily we stretch watercolor paper to avoid “cockling”. Stretching is a simple process that ensures the perfect painting surface for watercolour and gouache and involves soaking the paper, taping it down whilst wet and, as it dries, shrinking it only to the extent that the tape will allow so that it has no movement at all when further layers of water are applied. Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: first you soak the paper, then you stretch it. Check for air bubbles while taping. % of people told us that this article helped them. I see a few artists claiming that watercolor blocks are pre-stretched. When the stretch watercolor paper is completely dried, you can start painting. The most common is using gummed tape which is easily available. When you soak the paper it expands. Most watercolorists do so before painting, especially when using a thinner variety, as the process expands the fibers of the paper so it doesn’t buckle or warp. This change in the structure of the fibers is what causes raised ridges and low valleys to form on the surface of the paper which we see as buckling. The paper will “stick” to the surface when its wet so try to position it correctly the first time, otherwise it can be tricky to move around. 8 Easy Tips to Stretch Watercolor Paper. I used to think that simply by using watercolor paper you could avoid this problem. Some artists will tape and staple dry watercolor sheets down to the backing board to minimize buckling. Start by stapling in the middle of each side, and work your way around. This is at no extra cost to you. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Gator foam board (stronger than normal foam board, but still just as light, and with an impermeable surface). This will help align the gummed tape precisely. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. I suppose it could be argued that it's all just a … Be very careful if you try this method because there’s a real risk that you’ll burn the paper, so use a low heat setting. For a little background, my very first watercolor class was at a craft store. Dissolving the sizing is an incidental result of soaking the paper during the stretching process, but it's also common for some artists to brush their watercolor paper with clear water before working to eliminate the problem of blotchy sizing. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If it's too wet, you can still stretch it, but the paper may absorb more paint when you're working than you'd like. When you soak the paper it expands. Finally dry the paper using a hairdryer ! If you stand it vertically, the moisture will run to the bottom and may cause the gummed tape to pull away from the board. Soaking the paper for more than 10 minutes could wash away all the sizing. The simplest method for flattening wonly watercolors is as follows: 1. I often use this method with a sheet of plexiglass. Moisten the back of the paper first then iron the back of the painting, with a towel placed on top for protection. This type of paper is so heavy that it only buckles slightly after repeated wet washes. Additional Tips On how to stretch watercolor paper. This allows the paper to expand fully. This is especially true if you add a lot of wet watercolor washes or pre-wet the paper for a wet on wet technique. So you get some of the benefits of a watercolor block (which helps to hold the surface flat) and a lower amount of buckling because of the thickness of the paper ! If your style of painting uses very little water you will have less cockling and might get away without stretching your paper. The paper shrinks and tries to pull away from the taped edge. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Stretch-Watercolor-Paper-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Stretch-Watercolor-Paper-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7a\/Stretch-Watercolor-Paper-Step-1.jpg\/aid9443710-v4-728px-Stretch-Watercolor-Paper-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"