How to Stretch Watercolor Paper PERFECTLY!
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2024
- Here’s a demonstration of the watercolor paper stretching technique that I've been using successfully now for 30 years. Some highlights:
Stretching watercolor paper helps keep it from rippling and wrinkling during the painting process.
Stretching also softens the paper and makes it more water-absorbent and receptive to watercolor paint.
The gelatin sizing on unstretched paper can cause paint to bead on the surface, which can produce hard drying lines. Stretching helps remove some of this sizing and prepares the paper for soft, even washes.
The very smoothest Arches watercolor paper is 140 lb. hot press. You can paint on 300 lb. hot press if you want to avoid stretching paper, but it is slightly rougher than 140 lb. hot press paper. And 300 lb. paper will still warp and deform if it gets really wet.
The full-size (22x30-inch) Arches watercolor paper sheets seem to be better quality than the Arches paper you get on a pad or in a block or roll. This is my own observation based on personal experience… I’ve done over 300 watercolor paintings to date, and the best results were always on Arches full-size sheets either stretched on a large drawing board or cut into smaller pieces and stretched separately.
I stretch paper on plywood. Birch or maple is the smoothest, but just about any rigid wood surface will do, as long as it’s thick enough and clean! If it’s a new piece of wood fresh from the lumber yard or if you have sanded it, wash it down and then dry it with a paper towel and be sure the paper towel isn’t stained from the wood afterwards. If you notice any brown or yellow staining, wash the board again. You don’t want to contaminate the back of your painting with any residue from the wood.
Before using any interior grade plywood as a drawing board, I paint over the cut edges with acrylic gesso to help prevent moisture from seeping in and de-laminating the board.
A Masonite drawing board (like the ones with built-in clips that many art students use) is not recommended for stretching watercolor paper, unless you want to watch your drawing board slowly bend itself into a skateboard ramp.
I use 2-inch-wide water-activated Kraft paper tape to attach the wet paper sheet to a plywood drawing board. This will hold the paper securely if you press the tape down firmly and if it's not too wet. Some people use staples in addition to or instead of tape, but I've not found this to be necessary.
When your painting is finished, cut it off the drawing board and trim the tape off the edges. You can remove the remaining tape from your drawing board by soaking it with water and then scraping it off. If it doesn't come off easily, just soak it longer until the adhesive softens.
Art supply vendors, please stop putting product stickers on the FRONT of Arches watercolor sheets! Even if they peel off, the sticker often leaves residue, and the paper then needs to be trimmed down to remove the damaged section.
Thanks for watching, and please let me know in the comments if you have any questions.
Visit my website at www.paulpitsker.com
I have been losing my mind trying to make this work. All the other watercolor channels either completely ignore the stretching process or just skim over it like it ain't no big thang. It's freaking everything! So you are now my favorite watercolor channel. Without proper prep work there is no point. Liked and subbed. Thank you!
This is the first I have EVER EVEN HEARD of "stretching" the paper. I can't believe I haven't heard it from any other artist on CZcams! I'm grateful to have stumbled upon his videos! He is my new favorite as well! 😁
Thank you so much
@@nadageorgi7819 Can I use regular low/med tack masking tape..hard to order that wide paper tape does it matter you're just preventing the paper from. wadding or buckle up during this wetting process am I right ?
@@nonzerosum8943 Actually, if you have wet your art paper, masking tape wont stick to it. some people do soak the art paper and then attach it with staples. I haven't used this method ever, as I was lucky to find a huge roll of glued tape that has lasted me for many years. Depending on the art work, to save tape sometimes I have cut the 2inch/ 5cm tape in half lengthwise, make sure you fingers are dry before doing this!. I found my tape at our local printers, however printers mightn't be using it anymore but it's worth a try. I'm sure Amazon or eBay would have supplies as well. Hope this helps.😀
Agreed@
My tutor taught me how to stretch watercolour paper over 40 years ago, a little different to yours, but in my opinion simpler, so here goes. I only use 300gsm (140lb). I buy full sheets of Arches paper which I was taught to keep tearing into into halves, quarters and so on. I use the glued Kraft tape to tape the paper down.
All quality watercolour paper will be suitable, I just prefer Arches.
I have 3-4ply board from the hardware shop for my backing board.
I was taught to paint the board with a stain or acrylic paint to stop the wood from leaching into the paper.
Depending on the size of the paper I decide to do my painting, I soak it in tap water in either the bath, laundry tub, or a suitable container, my cleaned kitchen sink works just as well.
I soak it for about 3 minutes, then lift it out and hold to drain for a few seconds.
Then place it on my board, sometimes I need to lift it a couple of times to get it centered, I smooth the paper with the heal of my palm.
Once I'm happy, I have my glued paper, already cut to size, which I run a soaking wet NEW kitchen sponge over the glue side, and place it on the edges of the paper.
I like to do, long sides first, then short sides.
I don't worry If there are some bubbles in the paper, once the paper is dry, at least 8 hours indoors, they will disappear.
Now you are ready to paint.
I have used this method for all sizes, the largest being a half sheet of 300gsm Arches.
After a few trials and errors of getting the finished work off the board, I settled on this method.
I use an old art brush that is the same width as the Kraft paper.
After I've finished the painting and left it for a week or so, I paint the Kraft glue paper with water, being careful not to get water on the painting, this isn't difficult, than I wait about 5 to 10 minutes till the glue has softened and I simply lift the edge and it just lifts off, sometimes I have to use a thin knife to start the lifting, then, if it has soaked long enough the glued paper comes away easily.
The times I mention depends on where you live and the time of year. I live in Central Queensland, in Australia, where we have very hot dry summers, ave 34deg centigrade, and mild winters 7-8 deg cent.
Regarding bowing/ buckling boards, this can happen, usually if the boards haven't been sealed, stained/ painted etc, but it doesn't affect the paintings.
I have also used a bowed Masonite and as long as the smooth side is painted with acrylic it will work in a pinch.
This has been a very long detailed 'how to' but I don't do videos and I've seen many people wanting to know how to prepare their watercolour paper for painting.
If you only want to do a small painting about 10x8 inches, there really isn't any need to soak the paper etc. If you use quality paper the small sizes held down with Washi, masking, house painters tape and many others, all will be fine.
I know there are many other ways of preparing for watercolour painting, but this is the way I was taught and I still prefer it.
As they say 'each to his own'. Thank you if you have persevered for reading this LONG instruction.
Thank you so much for this detailed response! I’m sure those perusing the comments will find it useful! 🙂
I use much the same technique, but the bit where you say it may need a knife to start the lifting is my issue. I tend to cut the inside of the gummed paper to then lift out the painting. Sometimes it will come away perfectly, sometimes a knife is needed and it will leave some of the underside of paper stuck to the board. Normally no real issue. Problem with my last decent painting was it was totally stuck around 25mm around the perimeter after cutting the tapes perimeter. It was NOT coming off. I didn't do anything different!
I m careful to always put the gummed paper on intially so no glue gets under the paper. Is this what happens? It's as if the paper was glued to the board
This is super helpful @orieldel! Thanks so much. Just a quick question re removing the glued paper afterwards. Do you only remove it from the board and leave it on the watercolor paper? Do you then cut it with the Rota trimmer?
School of design 52 years ago and subsequent teaching position at college level. Same method! Works for me.
I do exactly what you do!
I can't believe that I went 11 years without knowing this... I heard some random comments here and there in college, but nobody took the time to actually explain this to me... the amount of paper I wasted. The amount of money I threw away without knowing this. The hours upon hours, upon hours of frustration, thinking I was too stupid to properly paint with watercolors...
so true
Detailed people are the best teachers. Thank you
Thank you for your interest!
Perfectly said! I don't always stretch my paper, but I realized with my first block of Arches that is it NOT the same as stretched paper! It's just cut up and glued on the edges. I thought I was so smart, painting while waiting for dinner to be served out on the patio and that paper buckled and made waves. It was not pleasant to paint on. It did return to flat when dry, but when you stretch your paper, it stays flat the entire time! The difference while painting is like night and day! You can have pools of paint that do not disrupt that paper!
I had a teacher for a summer school plein air class demonstrate stretching paper during the first class. He then tossed it in the back of his car and we all went to paint. When he arrived, his paper was dry and tight! What a difference it makes!
It was interesting to me that he liked the same size of paper to paint on, and he just cut the un-taped part of the painting out and left the tape accumulate. The next sheet was placed on the old tape and stretched, and so it went. He would clean it off after it was over an inch high. The thing that fascinated me about this was that that air beneath the paper allowed the paper to dry so much faster. That was a fun summer!
Thank you! I have watched a number of these over the past 2 years and this one is the best. You even talked about cleaning it up at the end - which most videos skip.
So thankful that successful artist share their time, experience and tips to such a global audience. I was told by many that stretching wasn’t necessary but once you’ve painted on stretched paper you can go back!
You can, but do you want to?
As an entomologist, naturalist, and beginning (but serious) watercolor artist, I LOVE your work!!
looking forward to seeing some of your work
As a Ectomorph, I respect his skills... 🤣
Do u have any ECTO paintings we can see yet
?
This is the best paper stretching video I’ve seen. Exactly how I was taught in college.
WOW! This has been so informative. You brought up many details others don't mention. I am guilty of never stretching my paper, just using it right off the glued paper block. Now I know the error of my ways. I am definitely going to use your method. ANd by the way, your art work is incredible. I'm almost tempted to hang up my brushes but I realize, your talent comes with constant practice. God give me patience.
Thanks starlight gazer B for your very nice note! Patience might be my one real superpower, but I think it also can be cultured with practice. Please don't hang your brushes... Good luck!
I have been trying to stretch paper since I began practicing watercolor over a year ago. I finally gave up and bought 300lb paper but damn, it's just out of my budget sometimes. No technique for stretching has been as helpful as what you show in this video. Thank you so much!
Thanks Karl… I’m so glad it was helpful!
I know this is an older video but I just wanted to tell you I really appreciate the last part about how to get the tape off! The whole video is great, but I was hoping to find out how to clean the board afterwards and I wasn’t disappointed! :)
I'm glad you found it helpful, thanks!
Great tips and easily demonstrated. Thank you!
Thank you thank you thank you sooooooo much!! I am so grateful to have found your tutorial!!
Beautiful job, thanks. I also like your artwork, it’s really amazing!
Excellent! Thanks for showing this and all the details.
Thank you for this.. especially the cleanup! Love your work, very excited to have CZcams link me up.
I’m just beginning…. (well, since high school art class). I was getting so frustrated that no amount of tape would keep the buckling at bay. I even saw a video that said the paper could be too old. My washes were puddling! Now I know why. Thank you so much. Hopefully with stretching my paper will behave. My husband works in bath remodeling, and I have asked for sheets of shower acrylic leftovers to use as paint boards. Currently I am using cookie sheets. Lol I am looking forward to seeing more of your videos!
Thank you!
Great video ... I was taught to do it like this at college back in the 60s and still maintain it is the best way to do it. Never fails. Thank you for sharing and reaffirming that it's not just old 'old school guys' that do it this way.
I love the sponge you use
Great tutorial! I'm happy I found your channel. Thank you!
Thank you for posting this vid! Your explanation really helped me
So helpful, thank you!
First time attempt today, thanks for the video! Also loved the hummingbird at the feeder at the beginning of the video!
thank you. this is very helpful
thank you for this!
That’s an excellent demonstration. Thank you. Subscribed.
Outstanding!
Thank you so much for being so thorough in your explanation! You’re an awesome teacher.
Very very helpful! Thank you!
Great.Really helpful.You have saved me a lot of time!!
Thank you! Ive come back to this video a couple times to help me when i need to stretch my paper. Very helpful video!
Thank you, you are so detailed. It helps a lot.
This video taught me everything I've been wanting to know. You cover things that other videos don't mention. Thank you! 🙏🏼
Thank you! What a clear explanation !
Thank you so much for this!
Thanks so much for your interest!
Excellent video! Just what I was looking for to prepare a large sheet for watercolor painting! Awesome!!!
Thank you sooo much for sharing the full process of stretching the watercolor paper!!!! 🙏🏻
Beautiful.
Very nice demo ! Thanks !!
Such a fantastic video! I've watched it before, together with some other videos and started my journey in stretching papers... Now that I have some experience I've came back to this video and can appreciate it even more! The best method and so informative! Thank you 🙏
Thank you so much!!! Finally someone who knows how to stretch paper.
Excellent!
Super interesting. So much incredible information that I hadn't heard before. Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for this! You are amazing!!!
You're welcome. And thank you!
Thank you so much for this video!
You are very welcome!
Fantastic video! Recently started using watercolors for my art and didn’t know about having to stretch the paper first. Thank you for the video and the channel
Thanks for helping to put an end to the watercolor block lie! 😆👍I will attempt my first watercolor background with way more confidence thanks to your channel
Thanks for showing this.... very few do and it's so important to know.
Thank you for your detailed demonstration!
I use Arches blocks most of the time, but needed to stretch a piece today. Thank you for the tips.
No problem, thanks for watching!
This is the BEST video I have ever seen on stretching watercolour paper. Thank you very much for the great, clear instructions! Brilliant!
Fantastic video thank you!
I’ve been using watercolour paper on and off for many years, yet have never found a foolproof method for stretching the paper, to the extent that I’ve often had the experience of stretching a sheet perfectly one day and then, quite literally, stretch a sheet the following day that buckles or puckers as it dries without varying the method in any way. Most frustrating, particularly because I do feel that work executed on stretched paper has a very particular quality, much the best!
Your excellent video has given me a few ideas, however, so thank you!
You do beautiful work. Thankyou
Thank you! Much appreciated!!
Thank you!! First time stretching, and messed up a few sheets trying to wing it. but once I watched your video, I got a perfect stretch!
Wow brilliant detail from skill and experience thankyou
Very informative, thanks!!
Thanks so much, perfect !
This was great to watch. when I first began watercolour painting i was taught to stretch the paper but friends now say it is in a block you don't need to stretch. I am now old but i still prefer to stretch so it was great to see you reinforce what my dear teacher taught me many moons ago.
Thank you, and yes a watercolor block is a convenience and time saver, but the paper on it is not stretched and it will wrinkle if it gets wet enough. But for artists who paint en plein air or who work very quickly , using a block might make more sense than spending the extra time stretching their paper.
This is the first demo to show from beginning to end steps. Thanks
Thank you so so much‼️❤❤
Excellent demonstration.🙏🏽🤗💖✨💐
That is fascinating! I've only been painting for about a year, but I never thought of buying seperate pieces of paper OR preparing the paper like this before I begin painting. I will definitely change my process going forward. Thank you!
Paper is no longer affordable in any form, but, full sheets are much more reasonably priced than a block is. My preference is to go to the art supply and pick out my own papers. The old Daniel Smith store on the Seattle waterfront, though, you would go to the paper desk, order what you wanted, and pristine sheets would be sent down on a fabulous vertical conveyer contraption, right to that desk. In other stores I occasionally find smudges on paper, so you want to avoid that, since fingerprints do resist paint.
Thank you for a great video, very informative. W-O-W, what a great picture with fish,, brilliant !
Thanks thats how i remember being taught stretching paper when went to college just needed a recap was so long ago now. really need to get a decent piece of wooden board now
Found this video after considering buying an expensive commercial stretcher. I will definitely try this. Considering doing a full sheet for first time.
Thank you for this video !☺️ - no other tutorials talk about cleaning the tape of the board after painting.
I have watched multiple paper stretching videos and your's is the only one that exposes the lie of paper on a block! As well after one uses half the block or more, there is no more "block"! I found it interesting as well that you sense a difference in Arches sheets over the rolled paper. Thank you, Diana
Thank you very much for this video. I didn't know how to do it.
Oh my gosh! I love you art! It reminds me of Lauren McCracken’s watercolor art.
A very nice compliment, thanks! Our black backgrounds are definitely similar.
His art is so pretty😍😍😍
This is how I was taught to stretch paper in my graphic art class eons ago. This method works. 👍🏼
Thanks, this was very helpful to me!
Thanks for watching, Annemieke, and for your feedback!
Great demonstration! I needed a refresher course in the, taping down watercolor paper. Great demonstration. I love your realistic paintings.
Thank you!
Thanks so much! Im transitioning from acrylic and really needed this knowledge.
Very good information!
I've been wondering HOW to do this for so long! This video is so cool, you're very clear and also funny, you seem to be a very good teacher, I'm impatient to watch your others videos!!
your tutorial is extremely helpful and your art is incredible, thanks so much :)
Thank you for your interest and feedback!
Thank you for this very informative demonstration on stretching paper. It’s so helpful.
Your artwork is stunning.
You are very kind, thank you!
This video was well done and very helpful. Thank you. I LOVE your style of watercolor art! 👍🏼👍🏼
Thank you for your interest and enthusiasm! 🙂
Thank you. Your art is amazing ❤
You are very kind, thank you!
Thank you very much for letting me learn the very valuable lesson of stretching the watercolour paper before drawing!! Thanks again!!!
Thanks for your interest! 🙂
Thanks. Very informative
You're so welcome... I'm glad you're finding it helpful 🙂
Wow your paintings are gorgeous! So glad I found you for your knowledge and creations
I learned a lot of info I'd never even thought about. Thanks buddy.
You're welcome! 🙂
Thank you!!
Totally understandable 💯!!
Great ! The best guide !! Thank you thank you! 😅🎉
I was taught this 25 years ago, it’s brilliant.
perfect, thank you
Thanks for this video.
Thank you!!!!
Thanks for the video!
This is the first time I've seen a video on this subject on u tube!
The gummed tape I've used was a brown paper rolled strip which smelled like bone glue and was perfect for the job.
Later these tapes came with some other odourless glue which didn't work so well.
Competitors from artist families always stretched their paper and sometimes used random color wash to wet the paper!
Of course most were winners!
Thank you very much!
Thanks Paul. I've been confused about this for the longest time. Everyone says blocks are best, but I realized I need to try stretching.
No problem. I have nothing against watercolor blocks -- they're very convenient, especially if you're traveling or painting outdoors. But a lot of people believe the paper in a block is stretched, and it's not true 🙂
I am going to try this method. Like you I use a plywood base. I use the cold shower to wet my paper. I then have thinly cut white mat board pieces that I staple to the board with a staple gun. I cover over the mat board strips and into a penciled inside frame on the paper with green frog painting tape. I agree, there is no way the block paper is the same as the single sheets. I have had trouble with paint not flowing the way it should and I actually had a spot on a piece where the paint would not adhere to the paper. For my next painting, I will try your method. Thank you very much.
Wow! Thank you! I’ve watched this several times. It really helped me correct the mistakes I was making trying to stretch my water color paper.
I'm so glad it was helpful -- thanks for your interest!
Many Thanks for your most excellent demonstration it was extremely helpful. Your work is wonderful and inspiring . Have a great week.
Thank you so much for your interest and feedback! I hope you’re having a good week too!
You have such a warm demeanor. Thank you for sharing your expertise.
Thank you, Esther!
wow, that painting is the most realistic watercolor i've ever seen.
Thank you!