Feb 21
Stretching paper and backing board
I always use a backing board when I am painting. A backing board is a board to which you will tape the watercolour paper so it will need to be larger all the way round than the paper.
The size of the board will depend on the size of your painting - it can be made from hardboard, masonite, plywood or any such wood. When I paint I tend to use quite a lot of water, for my washes, which is a technique called wet-into-wet. Watercolour paper tends to buckle, especially if you use a light weight paper and this is why I recommend using 300 gsm (the grammage or weight of the paper is now universally measured in grams per square metre).
If you are using a light weight paper, however, you will need stretch the paper. The best way to do this is to soak the paper overnight in a bath of water, hold the paper upright to let most of the water run off, then tape or even staple to the board. The paper will shrink; but when dries it will pull tight, which will make it durable and workable.
3 Comments so far
Leave a comment for Carol
what sort of tape is best? I don’t think masking tape would hold if the paper is wet..is that correct? Ros
Hi Ros. As I mostly teach in a workshop situation, I am asked to send a list of requirements to whoever it is that is running the workshop. In order to keep the cost of the workshop to a minimum I just use a good quality 1/2″ masking tape that can be bought at any good art supplier. Because I use top quality paper (no less than 300gms) it works fine. Over the years, I’ve taught hundreds of workshops and I have never had a problem. Here’s how:
Tape a dry sheet of paper to the board with the masking tape, half on the paper and half on the board. I run my finger along the edge of the tape to make sure that it has stuck down properly. Having said all that, you will get a slight buckle in the paper when you are working wet on wet but when dry it will flatten back out again.
The only thing you do have to watch is that the water does not gather under the tape at the bottom of the board - it means you are using to much water. If
the water is left under the tape it will work its way back up in to the paper and create a water mark. You can overcome this by moving the board around upside down and sideways so that the paper soaks up any of the excess water.
If you are painting at home and you have plenty of time to stretch your paper by soaking it for at least two hours or overnight, you can then use a “Gummed Brown Paper Tape”. Dip the pre-glued tape in a tub of water and, when taking it out, use your fingers like a pair of scissors to take off excess water. Then tape your wet pre-stretched paper to the board. Nothing will move it once it has dried. This mean that when you remove your painting from the board it is best to use a Stanley knife to cut the tape from the paper.
I could go on and on as every painter has their own method that they consider best, after you have been painting a while you will find what is best for you.
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