The paper shrinks and tries to pull away from the taped edge. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I’ve seen a lot of artists use this method which results in a nice tight paper surface. To fix the soaked paper you need some gummed tape. When the paper fibers absorb water they expand lengthwise, and they take on a more random alignment. Then you can staple or glue the paper to a board. Primarily we stretch watercolor paper to avoid “cockling”. Stretching you watercolour paper means that it will remain flat for the time that you are painting on it. Moisten the back of the paper first then iron the back of the painting, with a towel placed on top for protection. So it would be a good method if you’re in a hurry. To remove your painting cut around the edges of the sheet using a sharp craft knife. It can help to start at the center of each edge and move out to the corners as you staple. For a little background, my very first watercolor class was at a craft store. The even size that is placed on the surface of watercolor paper during manufacture helps slow … This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Press it firmly across the paper to soak up any excess water. You need to soak your paper just the right amount of time or you can run into problems later. This treatment is added to improve the performance of the watercolor paper. Plexiglass (stable, lightweight and adds the advantage of transparency). Then you can staple or glue the paper to a board. About 5 to 10 minutes of soaking is usually about all you need. To resolve this issue, watercolor paper can be “soaked and stretched” so it remains completely flat when the artist begins painting. The board has grooves around the edges. 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). The paper loses its springiness when it’s sufficiently dampened. 3. If you’re soaking in a tub, simply plunge the sheet into your water container. You then fix the edges of the paper so that when it dries and contracts the surface is pulled tight like a drum. The paper expands when wet, then when blow dried it seems to go back to a flat surface. Make sure you put the paper the right way up ! When watercolor paper absorbs liquid, it buckles and deforms, leaving ridges and depressions which make paint flow difficult to control. But in my tests this method does not work ! Handmade air dried sheets tend to cockle less and in random way which is evenly distributed over the whole sheet. Untreated paper is like blotting paper and has a very high rate of absorption. The whole process is done directly on the board and with less water, so it’s a bit less messy. If you’re using single sheets you can tell which is the front side by looking at the watermark. Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: first you soak the paper, then you stretch it. 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. There are ways that you can try to recover a painting which has buckled after a painting session. For example left and right, then top and bottom. Copyright text 2020 by Watercolor Affair. 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. I like to just tape the dry paper right down to my work table. Some artists recommend putting candle wax into the grooves beforehand so that paper removal is easier. There are so many opinions and tutorials on how to stretch watercolor paper. Stretch paper only when necessary and when it suits your painting preferences. By Barbara Tibbets in Art Tutorials > Painting Tutorials I’m a watercolorist and have been painting since the mid 80’s. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Does it need to be stretched? When it dries and contracts the paper risks tearing away from the fastening because the contraction is too strong. A lot of artists will warn you against using a hairdryer to dry the paper. Learn more... Stretching your watercolor paper is an important step because it keeps the paper from wrinkling when you paint. You're welcome to follow along... Read more About Me... * My articles may contain the occasional affiliate link, which can help me earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you’re too impatient to stretch your paper each time you want to paint, but you still want to avoid that bothersome buckling, you could just try using thicker paper ! The final method is to use a specially designed paper stretching board. You staple canvas or paper around it to stretch it out. If you soak too much, the paper expands considerably. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. This kind of fixing is good most of the time, but to be safe it's a good idea to add some staples to reinforce the fixing. Why, you ask, do I need to stretch my watercolor paper? This method also has some advantages for artists who like wet on wet techniques. You just need to wipe the glue side of the tape with a wet sponge to activate the glue. This method is simple and you can use the paper soon after preparation. Smaller paper sheets can be taped down as they are, without going through a stretching process. The process involves soaking the paper to expand the fibres, attaching it to a rigid board and allowing it to dry and shrink to become taut. 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. This is at no extra cost to you. Paper fibers absorb water as you paint. This will help align the gummed tape precisely. Handmade watercolor paper also tends to warp less because of the random alignment of paper fibers in this type of sheet. If you soak too long the internal sizing will wash away. Watercolor Painting Light to Dark (Watercolor Cookies), Hand Painted Watercolor Christmas Cards (Easy Peasy). Dampen the back of the watercolor painting using a water spray bottle. When you soak the paper it expands. It’s a nuisance which all watercolor artists have to deal with. Go over the paper a couple of times to make sure the whole surface is dampened. Let the paper dry overnight. Using gum tape to stretch watercolor paper The most common, certainly in the past, was to thoroughly wet your paper for about 15 minutes. This keeps the paper stretched so that it will not cockle when painted on or when further water is added. Finally dry the paper using a hairdryer ! Dry watercolour paper is such a perfect surface. This kind of tape is water activated. You then pick it up and allow most of the surface water to drip down off the paper. The sizing in the paper is what keeps the paint from absorbing all the way through the paper. By sticking down all four paper edges with Gumstrip, it restrains the paper in its expanded state. The first step in paper stretching is soaking the paper. The board will help distribute the weight across the paper surface but try to spread the weights out evenly. Being able to test the wetness of the paper by touching the backside of the paper is a huge benefit ! Canvas frame or stretcher bars (lightweight and cheap). Indeed, some watercolor artists invent ingenious ways to prepare their paper. Not to worry. What stretching your paper means, as most of you may know, is to wet it and attach it to a surface to keep it from buckling when you paint on it. Test the “spring” by folding a corner from time to time to see if the paper is fully soaked. You’ll get a feeling for when to stop soaking the paper, when it turns limp and starts to behave like cloth. 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. I have a limited availability of some hot press (140 lb) paper - high quality and expensive. Place the painting on a flat surface and cover with a board of some sort. Many artists soak or stretch their watercolor paper prior to painting. Make sure the surface is smooth and consider painting it with an acrylic primer to make the surface less porous. If you opt for the spray or brush technique, you can place your paper on a clean board, soak it, then turn the paper over and soak again. When stretching wet paper, be sure the frame is at least 2 inches smaller than the paper … Alternatively, you can use a canvas stretcher to stretch out the paper. Or immersing the sheet in a tub of water. Start by stapling in the middle of each side, and work your way around. The first step in paper stretching is soaking the paper. This is not what I call paper stretching. I use Arches watercolor paper most of the time and I find this is sufficient. You begin by wetting the paper. MDF board can also be used but it should be sealed beforehand so that water doesn’t penetrate. I often use this method with a sheet of plexiglass. The thickness of the paper will affect the amount of time needed for soaking a sheet. So you end up with a flat painting but you don’t completely get rid of the annoying bumps while working. It’s good to use a board which is at least 1” larger on all sides than your sheet of paper. Not easily available in the US but you can get them shipped from the UK or find them directly at the Ken Bromley Art supplies store. For this method you need an empty canvas frame or canvas stretcher bars. The expansion and contraction is what normally causes ripples or warping in paper. You can create all kinds of sizes or customized frames with this method. 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. Supplies: Watercolor paper; Large clean tray for water: tray should have one dimension slightly … Sandwich the painting between two sheets of clean paper. Most watercolor paper needs to be stretched before it can be used as a good painting surface and to ensure that it won’t crinkle when your paints dry. Now wet the paper using clear water and a large soft brush. The point of stretching watercolor paper is to prevent your paper from rippling and warping as you paint. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. How to stretch watercolour paper. Additional Tips On how to stretch watercolor paper. That whiteness just cries out for a splash of paint but unfortunately, that is where the problems can begin. You can either get hold of some cheap frames and strip the canvas, or buy stretcher bars and make your own frames. A canvas stretcher is a simple wood frame in a rectangular or square shape. Plus as a bonus, I’ll even suggest how you can avoid stretching paper altogether ! Soaking the paper for more than 10 minutes could wash away all the sizing. Make sure you leave the board flat while drying, and not upright. Arches is one of the best brands. I recommend you use a heavy duty stapler to fix the paper in place, it just makes the job easier. This is pretty annoying because as you continue to paint, pigment tends to run into the low valleys and settle in pools. Heavier papers require more soaking time and lighter papers need less time. 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. If your style of painting uses very little water you will have less cockling and might get away without stretching your paper. The simplest method for flattening wonly watercolors is as follows: 1. But to some extent the fibers retain their irregular alignment. When you begin a painting session your paper is pre-stretched and it won’t warp or crumple. You can put your prepared board onto a light box or up against a window. Try to leave the paper in a warm dry place to dry overnight. wikiHow's. This article has been viewed 12,758 times. 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. Place along all four outer edges of the paper, covering just about ¼” of the paper. Stretching watercolor paper is useful for larger paper sizes, such as 11” x 15" or more. By using our site, you agree to our. Soaking with a spray bottle, sponge, or large brush. No messy tape to clean up. Blocks can however be very practical for plein air work. Roll out two layers of your paper towels over the sheet. Stretching Watercolor Paper If you have a relatively small piece of paper, say 9×12″, then you can just use cheap clear packing tape to hold the watercolor paper down to a hard surface or board. The final result is beautifully smooth and a pleasure to work on. So I thought I’d put together this article to show you 3 different ways for stretching your paper and 1 common example of how NOT to stretch watercolor paper. (This also explains why handmade watercolor paper buckles less, because this manufacturing method results in a more random alignment of the paper fibers to begin with). Leave flat to dry. This is probably the most common method. ½” is a good minimum thickness). Soak the paper using one of the methods described above. Last Updated: December 16, 2020 This applies a lot of pressure on the tape, which sometimes just isn’t enough to hold the shrinking paper in place. Lukewarm water seems to help the paper expand more quickly. The most common is using gummed tape which is easily available. Taping the paper with masking tape before soaking defeats the purpose completely. References. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. This allows the paper to expand fully. I use 140lb. Each method has its own advantages and drawbacks. Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: first you soak the paper, then you stretch it. Gummed tape is a better option than masking tape. Just like the last method, use force but don’t soak up all the water. I suppose it could be argued that it's all just a … If you wish to avoid stretching watercolour paper but you wish your surface to remain flat you can use heavyweight paper, over 200lb, or watercolour board (watercolour paper laminated to board similar to mountboard). You can read more about my favorite watercolor paper here). Personally, I prefer the immersion method because there is less chance that you damage the paper. He called it the “perfect paper stretcher”. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Just make sure your board is clean and won’t transfer color to the paper and is rigid. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Orient the sheet so that the watermark reads correctly. Gator foam board (stronger than normal foam board, but still just as light, and with an impermeable surface). Another popular method is with staples, but I recommend you use a heavy duty stapler. It should be slightly smaller than the paper you want to stretch. Alternatively, you can use a canvas stretcher to stretch out the paper. But did you know they make thick watercolor paper with a weight of 300 lb / 640 gsm? The downside with marine ply is that the board is heavy, but gator board can be difficult to find if you’re in europe. (Its important to use good quality paper. Hello all, my name is Marsha Riti, and I am a children’s book illustrator as well as a member of the Girllustrators. For this most artists opt for one of the following methods. The paint will stay flat since you have emerged the piece of watercolor paper in the water already. Check for air bubbles while taping. Method 1 – Stretching paper to use later. Sizing is designed to help control this characteristic so that all of your paint doesn’t get sucked up by the paper ! 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 ! Create your painting while the sheet is still taped to the board. This is in effect adding to the gummed size that is on the surface of the paper. If your using a sponge or bristle brush, be careful not to wipe over the sheet too firmly, as this will raise the fibers on the surface and can damage the paper. The dampened paper is laid on the glued frame and pressed into the glue. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The methods used to stretch paper help to dissolve some of the sizing, creating a better distribution of sizing across the paper and a more receptive surface. This is a technique which some artists refer to as quick and easy. But I’ve found there are a few different ways to do this. For paper under 24″ square a … It totally depends on what weight paper you use and whether the paper buckling while you paint bothers you. Once the paper is dry, it will be stretched tight on the board and will not warp when watercolor is added. The frames are very lightweight, and you can even keep it on the frame so long as you protect your watercolor paintings (use something like Renaissance Micro-Crystalline Wax Polish). Then – wet your paper with a large 2in soft brush and allow it to dry before painting directly onto the board. How To Stretch Watercolour Paper: Paper expands when it is soaked in water. How-To Stretch Paper. Some watercolor artists stretch their papers in advance and store them on stretching boards, so they are ready for use. If you’re a perfectionist you can draw some pencil guidelines about a ¼” around the inside edges of your paper. The answer is, you don't. I show you how to stretch watercolour paper in the traditional way and also another way to stretch a small piece of paper with one of my actual illustrations. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. This type of paper is so heavy that it only buckles slightly after repeated wet washes. Also take this time to smooth out extra water. Step 5. You lay down a nice watery wash of paint, you settle down to enjoy your painting, and then… It all goes lopsided ! Some people use an iron to flatten buckled paintings. But  if you can get very thick handmade paper this is an excellent surface which needs no stretching. This is typically done on lighter-weight watercolor sheets to stop the paper from buckling when wet media is applied to the surface. As you are turning, make sure you are stretching it flat. However, they are not easy to find. Now place weights on top of the board (some heavy books will do the job). Good for you. So you're ready to make a dent in the world of watercolors ? But sometimes watercolor paper can have irregularities in the surface sizing. How to stretch watercolor paper. This is extremely useful when you want to use the transparency of the plexiglass to help transfer a drawing onto your watercolor paper. This is my favorite way to stretch paper – and I use it 80% of the time. Yep… Even though watercolor paper is designed to accept water based medium and is quite stable, it still warps because of wetness. Stretching your watercolor paper is an important step because it keeps the paper from wrinkling when you paint. This is almost like cardboard ! Cause: Splashing water activated gum on the unpainted surface of your paper while stretching. 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). ​Most artists stretch their paper to overcome warping. I’ve seen artists show this method and to be honest i had my doubts, so i thought I would test it before passing judgement. You now have a perfectly flat surface while you work. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Some people prefer to do opposite sides first, such as the top and then the bottom. Don’t soak too long because you don’t want to dissolve all of the sizing. Watercolor blocks are a stack of sheets that are bound together with thick adhesive around all four sides. Then try to "stretch" the paper into place using your fingers on the paper. So you’ve found the perfect watercolor paper for your next project. They expand when wet, then contract again when drying. Here I’m using a marine ply board but you can use gator board with this technique. The method used to manufacture commercial paper causes the paper fibers to align in the same direction. If the sheet doesn’t fit completely, dip one end into the water and drag the paper through the water from one end to another repeatedly. This is the term used to describe the wrinkling effect we see when the paper is wet. Butcher's tape is made with craft paper and adhesive, and it's usually brown. 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. There are a lot of tutorials and videos on the subject, but I want to take you through my many, many mistakes—ones that you can avoid—as well as teaching you how to stretch your watercolour paper. Feel free to give it a go, but frankly I wouldn't recommend this technique. Hi, I'm Anthony. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Lay the board flat to dry. Tape your paper down to a board and use masking tape to fix the paper in place.. Make sure there’s no air trapped under the paper. 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. It’s a technique I first learned from the artist Ewa Karpinska. Cool water helps the paper keep its sizing. Some artists will tape and staple dry watercolor sheets down to the backing board to minimize buckling. Board: This is the most common way of stretching paper and spruce drawing boards (draughtsmen’s boards) are the best because they are hard wearing and durable. Be careful not to wash the glue off by rubbing or wetting too much. 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. Spraying the paper rather than immersing it takes a little more time. But when you paint on the paper even with a medium wet wash, the paper buckles anyway ! I recommend you do some testing if you use a different brand. Place the canvas frame in the center of the sheet and wrap the paper around the back edge of the frame. If you reached the end of this long article, congratulations ! 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. 24 hours is a good average but you should test the paper to check if it still seems cold or damp before using it. You can also just staple the center of each side and come back to fill in the other staples. Like a lot of watercolorists, I use Arches watercolor paper for a lot of my work. When watercolor is added, the moisture causes the surface to expand slightly on the wet side. 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. Some good materials to use for stretching boards include: Marine grade plywood (A good choice if you prefer something solid. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. In general the paper needs to dry at the same rate all over and your paper should not be soaked for too long. Stretching your paper is the common solution. When dry, the stretched paper should not cockle when water is applied. The packing tape will peel cleanly off of the watercolor paper without ripping. When you soak the paper it expands. You then fix the edges of the paper so that when it dries and contracts the surface is pulled tight like a drum. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My love affair with painting began when I was a kid. 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. And on top of that you can get this paper in block format. In this tutorial, I will introduce you to the traditional process of paper stretching. There may be ripples or raised places in parts of the paper, … I see a few artists claiming that watercolor blocks are pre-stretched. When the stretch watercolor paper is completely dried, you can start painting. 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. This method is very efficient but pricey. 8 Easy Tips to Stretch Watercolor Paper. And because the paper is so firmly held in place you can also use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process ! To […] Before you prep your palette and grab your brush, you may have to stretch it. To stretch the paper you need to fasten the soaked sheet to a smooth flat rigid surface. If you get the soaking time right, this method is solid and reliable. However they do seem to resist warping better than loose sheets. Block papers are not stretched. {"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":"