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Starting with Watercolour (part 2)

08/05/2010

‘Stretching’ watercolour paper

In part 1 of this series, I mentioned the different weights of watercolour paper. When you come across reference to 90lb, 140lb, 200lb paper, it indicates the weight of a huge ream of paper before it’s cut into more convenient sizes for the artist. When water is applied to watercolour paper, you have to imagine it as a sheet of blotting paper; 90lb paper is generally only good for light washes as it doesn’t have the density to hold much water. 140 to 200lb paper however, has a better heavy wash retaining density and will be less likely to ‘cockle’ ( the surface becoming ridged and uneven, making it difficult to work on) like the 90lb paper.  There are makes of watercolour that are made in weights even heavier than 200lb. these are more suited to much heavier use of washes and various techniques such as  ‘washing out’ and ‘scratching out’, which we will look at further on. When stretched paper dries. It is taught like a drum-skin and will remain so even after washes have been applied.

If you are buying loose sheets or pads of watercolour paper you will need to stretch the paper. Some smaller pads come bound with a layer of glue around all sides. This holds the paper taught, preventing cockling, and then you just have to separate the sheet after use.

Often, the 200lb paper can be just held to the drawing board using masking tape. For beginners, it may be a tad expensive going through this heavier paper, so I would recommend you buy an A4 size (9” x 11”) pad of paper and a couple of large loose sheets of 140lb paper, which you can cut to the desired size – these sheets need to be stretched.

How to stretch watercolour paper

·     You will need a smooth surfaced wooden drawing board or piece of thick plywood big enough for the paper size you are going to work on, with at least an inch all round to spare.

·     Paper cut to size

·     Gum-strip tape. This is a brown paper tape that comes in a roll and has one side with an adhesive surface when wetted. Cut to size allowing an overlap, four lengths; one for each side of the paper.

·      A large sink or bath filled with enough water to immerse the paper.

·     A clean dry towel to dab the paper and tape

 Place the paper in the water ( not hot ) for a couple of minutes. Take the paper out allowing the surface water to run off. Place the paper carefully in place on the board, and gently dab the excess water off the surface of the paper while laying flat. Dip the lengths of tape in water or under the tap and place on each corner of the paper – half on the paper and half on the board. Smooth out with your thumb nail, by running it along the edge between the paper and the board to ensure a good grip of the board. Gently dab the area between the tape and the surface of the paper to ensure the adhesive sticks to the paper.  Leave the paper to dry on the board. It is best to leave it to dry flat, so you will need to ensure it is left somewhere safe for ½ hour, where it won’t be walked over by the cat!

Don’t leave the board by a heater as the paper or tape will dry too quickly, and they will separate.    Good luck!

 If any one has any comments to make, or contributions to this article,please feel free to send me an  Email at :  chrisjtaylor@blueyonder.co.uk