An alternative to using gummed paper tape or staples is to use a paper stretcher. The bumpy paper on the outside of the staples is then a thing of the past and the painting stays flat in the mat.

Watercolor Lotus Sunrise Capri Leggings Printed leggings

Next, the second staple goes in the corner that is closest to the first staple.

How to stretch watercolor paper with staples. You then fix the edges of the paper so that when. Now, staple with staples about 2 inches apart. Next i run the paper under cool water in the sink or bathtub, moving it around just until it's wet everywhere.

This is a skill that i had to learn the hard way and developed over years of trial and error. When you soak the paper it expands. Gum paper works for smaller sizes but always gives me problems with a full sheet size.

That will affect the stretch watercolor paper texture unevenly. The staple gun method works better but i detest those holes in the border once the staples are taken off. I don’t cut the paper inside the stapled line either, as it reduces my painting area.

Thanks to watercolor artist, phil schmidt, for sharing his method for stretching watercolor paper in the youtube group “watercolor steps.”. How to stretch watercolor paper. When the stretch watercolor paper is completely dried, you can start painting.

Place along all four outer edges of the paper, covering just about ¼” of the paper. The paint will stay flat since you have emerged the piece of watercolor paper in the water already. Additional tips on how to stretch watercolor paper.

Instead, it involves thoroughly soaking the watercolor paper so that the fibers “plump” and the paper size expands slightly. The paper will always dry flat. The otto paper stretcher is the easiest way to stretch watercolor paper without tacks or tape.

Create your painting while the sheet is still taped to the board. Before you soak your paper have out: Here is the list of materials you’ll need for this method of stretching watercolor paper:

8 easy tips to stretch watercolor paper. Often, after the staples are removed, i put a straight edge on the line of staple holes and cut off the excess with the mat knife. This system will leave no holes in the deckle, and is easy enough to use that artists of all ages will be delighted.

The packing tape will peel cleanly off of the watercolor paper without ripping. Your 1/2″ thick foamboard, stapler (full of staples), paper towel roll, and a double layer of paper towel laid out on your work surface. Water, stapler and staples, masking tape or artist's tape, watercolor paper steps:

Slide your watercolor paper into the bath till fully submerged. This article is about stretching watercolor paper using staples. 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.

Here are three ways to stretch watercolor paper. Water bucket, clean flat sponge, utility sponge, spray bottle, paper towels, scissors or mat knife. These come in specific sizes and your paper must be trimmed to fit, a few mm less than the board so that it is not larger than the board when soaked, as the paper swells.

First i cut my paper to the size i need, and lay my gatorboard flat on a table or counter. 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. How to stretch watercolor paper.

Once the paper is dry, it will be stretched tight on the board and will not warp when watercolor is added. Let the paper dry overnight. You can also stretch paper using tape following the.

There are other methods of holding the edges firmly to the board. Paper stretchers use clamps to hold the soaked paper to a board. Preferred watecolor paper (sheets instead of blocks/pads preferred—i am using fabriano 300lb hot pressed) light duty staple gun and staples;

There are four traditional ways to stretch or mount your watercolor paper. Then, while it’s still wet, you staple it down to a board, and as it dries, it contracts slightly against the staples, and this flattens and smooths it. First you soak the paper, then you stretch it.

It is easier to pull the staples out of the board then because you don’t need to be so careful. Staples, butcher’s tape, or liquid gummed adhesive. Susan uses white lukas tape to attach the paper to the board, instead of staples…

Tilt your paper to see if there are any dry spots and correct those. You can use butcher’s tape, staples, a frame and staples, or wheat paste. In this mini workshop we will be discussing how to stretch watercolor paper.

You now have stapled one of the two short lengths of your paper. And there are always alternatives. I like to just tape the dry paper right down to my work table.

Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: This also makes for easier framing of the piece. It is recommended for 140lb and lighter watercolor paper.

Have your bathtub fulled with 6″ of cool water (not warm or hot). Staple one corner of the paper to the board. Now repeat the other short side.