I paint on a glass top table. So i paint the area of the table/glass with water in the exact area where the paper will be. Then I paint the back of the paper with water from edge to edge. Wetting it evenly. Then I coalesce the paper onto the wet glass top and smooth it out to eliminate any air bubbles. Use a paper towel to dry the excess water from the edge of the paper and the table around the paper. Then I immediately tape the edges down with washy tape. So far its the best thing I have found to keep even cheap paper from buckling.
A fellow aritst! Thank you Master Chen. may i respectfully add, to be helpfull. T He heaver your paper, the less it will buckel,140 wt, 300wt . lets say you made a nice painting you want to save, but it has wavy buckels after its done. put the paper on a clean smooth surface. put a clean dry smooth cloth over it, and slowly iron it lightly with a warm, "not hot" cloths iron. this takes out any moisture and smooths out the paper. i suggest you try it on a small peace first, to get the feel of it. then another way is to paste it on to a board and use a clean roller to roll out the buckles. Great video mr. Chen.
Thank you! I'm wanting to do a mixed media so my paper will not be watercolor paper but I plan to try your stretching technique on my mixed media paper.
Awesome video (: No one talks about the gummed tape. Really useful to know that. The pad + tape is great as well. I used to cut out the paper and tape it to a board, but that way of just turning it into a block is much better ^_^ Thank you!
totally thought the same thing Liron! I am always cutting out the smaller paper. Thanks for that Yong! (and I definitely had a little laugh seeing that your comment on this post is from 3yrs ago!) It's great to see how we grow as artists from other artists...that is an art in and of itself. Shalom my friend!
Thanks for the tips! I have been painting a few years now but have always been intimidated by watercolor and the buckling of the artwork. With your advice, I feel more confident! Thanks!!! :)
I have my own method of ensuring my paper keeps flat while painting and after it dries. I have glued a half inch strip of sandpaper around the top face of my board. I then wet the paper on both sides and allow the water to soak into the paper a little. Next place the damp paper onto the board carefully aligning the edges so that they lie within the sandpaper border so that the sandpaper grips the underside of the damp paper. Next clip half inch strips of thin beading wood on top of the paper so that it clamps the paper firmly onto the sandpaper using bulldog clips or binder clips. As the paper dries, which can be speeded up using a hair dryer, it tightens like a drum and will stay flat while you paint and when you allow it to dry after the painting is finished it tightens again to remain flat afterwards. I use this method all of the time with my paintings. It is good because it only takes 5 minutes to prepare, works like a charm and costs so little to make up a prepared board with the sandpaper around the top surface. The sandpaper itself does not want to be too rough, slightly more abrasive than you would have on a finger nail sanding block or pencil sharpening block. If you use too rough a piece of sandpaper I have found that the initially damp paper sinks into it too much and it difficult to remove from the board afterwards. I hope you find my method useful.
Hi Gwen, I have just created a blog post on my website, tonygart.co.uk, that hopefully explains and demonstrates the whole process for you. You can find the blog entry here on this short link: wp.me/p8sY1c-6o If you have any problems or questions let me know.
Thanks Yong Chen, I like to watch your videos and, like you, I enjoy sharing my experiences with fellow watercolour artists in the hope that I can help them overcome obstacles and gain more enjoyment from using the medium.
Not all pads have the spiral rings on top. In fact thats a cheaper brand you have. Arches has a pad with the top gummed and it removes easily. I will try making it a block. But I usually tape it on my board and if I don't and it buckles I just spray the back when it's dry. And put it under some heavy books. Smooth as can be
I like your voice Also im gonna try this ;; ive been stressing a lot about how to stretch the paper when its in a pad and wow youre a lifesaver TT Thank you ^^
Awesome! I thought about foam board (Hobby Lobby (slightly warped)) but opted for masonite pegboard (almost as light and less warp). Also, I've used Lowes (scotch) masking tape ... because I use oil paints (on Arches paper) and prefer to seal out the boarder for effect. A huge thumbs up! Utmost blessings!
I thank you so much for such in depth explanation! It was very well explained and easy to understand! I thank you so so much! You are a great artist! :D
This is a great and informative video! It really helped me decide how I wanted to stretch my paper. The only thing I got confused on was the tape portion- is just any acid free tape good, or is it supposed to be specifically acid free tape meant for paper?
i have tried every one of these methods and the paper still buckles. i can always iron the paper once the painting is dry but how do i avoid the buckles while i am still painting? i have tried soaking the paper, having one side wet, having no sides wet. i have tried making blocks, using blocks (including the ones shown here) and they all buckle. everyone who posts a video like this gives the same tips but they just don't work for me. i guess i need to use 300 lb paper from now on.
Susan, keep the painting attached until it is dried completely, the paper will return to its original state. When the paper is wet as you paint, the paper will not flat as you like... There is another way to stretch the paper, that is soak the paper both side, lay it on a board for a few minutes, then start using gummed tape (you need to wet it first) to tape all sides, then wait for it dry, then start painting. This way, the paper will be flat all the time. I will make another video on the wet-stretching.
thanks you so much, i will try that. i have never let it dry before painting, so thanks for the suggestion. it is really hard to get the effect of northern lights with buckled paper, i find. thanks again
@ Susan... I've been using this technique for a little over 20 years maybe you might want to try it. I went to my local lumbar yard, but most places that sell lumbar and building supplies like paneling and such should carry it... I bought an 8 X 4 sheet of homasote board, it's a gray textured panel used for office cubicles that are then covered in various fabrics. It's great because people can tack notes or pictures of loved ones to it without any damage... sort of like cork board but way less expensive. I believe homasote is made out of recycled cardboard heavily pressed into sheets 3/4" thick. I payed around $12 for a 8 X 4 foot sheet and had it cut in half so I had two 8 foot X 2 foot pieces... these I cut into various lengths ( it's extremely easy to cut ) some are 18 inches by 2 foot, I cut 2 to hold a full sheet of watercolor paper, but it's totally up to you. I ended up with 8 watercolor boards for a little over $12 for all, not a bad price at all. They are light weight but extremely durable, you can staple or tack or use push pins to hold your watercolor paper down and when you remove your staple or pins there's no damage to the board unlike foam core. I wet both sides of my watercolor paper and while it's still wet pin it to my board and then let it dry over night... the next day it's as tight as a drum. Your better watercolor paper has a certain amount of "sizing" in it... and it's not a good idea to over soak your paper as you will end up removing all the sizing... you can look up sizing on you tube if you don't already know about it... there will be some buckling using this method but it will be very minor and only for the first wash if you use tons of water... but it will be flat once it dries. The only other method for not having any buckling at all is to use watercolor board which I use but it's quite expensive, I also use Crescent brand Illustration board in 2 and 3 ply widths, again it's expensive, the nice thing about watercolor board as well as Illustration board is there's no stretching required. I'll gladly reply to any questions you might have concerning anything to do with watercolors as I've been at it for over 40 years.
@ Susan... I just did a little research... you can google " Homasote Company over view" and learn all about this great product and why it lasts forever, is mold resistant, termite resistant, and holds up to all kinds of weather which means it's ideal for use as a watercolor board, and even though it has gone up in price since I bought it 20 years ago it's still light years cheaper ( and better) than any watercolor board on the market. You can also google the nearest retail site where you can buy it... if you have a Home Depot near you... they carry it but be sure to google it first so if you call the retail clerk knows what you're asking for. The first time I called the person that took the call said they didn't carry it only because they didn't know what it was or what it was used for... turns out they do have it in stock... so I'm going to recommend it to some of my students.
Wait until the paper is totally dry 24 to 48 hours inside at 20 degrees Centigrade. Just feeling dry to the touch (is not dry enough) then removing the tape the paper will buckle.
I find this video helpful, but I have a few questions. Watercolor blocks are just sheets of paper glued on all four sizes. Since all four sides are held tightly, you don't have to pre-wet and stretch. A sheet of watercolor paper even when held tightly on all four sides, be it with staples or tape, has to be wet and stretched first, even though it seems to be just like a watercolor block to me. Is this true, and why the difference? And what exactly is the determining factor of whether a watercolor paper would buckle? In this video, you mentioned different drying speeds cause buckling. In this case, isn't it possible that water would dry at different speeds on a watercolor block and cause buckling too? How does a watercolor block's glue on all four sides prevent this?
Simple answer to your questions is: a sheet of paper in a watercolor block is the same as a sheet of paper in a watercolor pad. You tape three sides of a watercolor pad, it will be just like a watercolor block. See this video of me painted a flamingo: ua-cam.com/video/YsJfL7bVi_E/v-deo.html
What type of board would you suggest i use with cellulose paper. And can you use kraft tape that you wet to active the glue or paintes tape.also doesn't it need to be a board like a drawing board,or a masonite board not the carboard backing of the pad,i thought it would warp too. cardboard
Thank you for sharing this great testings, may I know how do you store your watercolor paper to avoid the expiration which looks like - a translucent look (almost see-through)?
Thank you for your video! Question - have a couple of good paintings which dried a tiny bit warped. Is there any way, after the fact, to flatten? Perhaps spray lightly, tape down and dry again? Thank you to all for your input!
I see this is a year old and no one has replied. Perhaps you have resolved this by now.. but for some who may have this issue.. You can use a regular household iron. no steam.. no water.. just the heat of the iron on a flat surface. Do not use highest heat setting.. medium to low will work... putting paper on both sides of artwork before heating / pressing. while still warm, place heavy objects on top and let cool completely. Leaving 24 to 48 hours is probably good.
The price of those blocks makes no sense beautiful you can make it in any diy bocks . You can just glue down your water color paper pad to do the same . I like cutting my pads down to make four or more sheets depending on the size of the paper .smaller pads are easier to work in for me and get a bonus 4x the papper to use
I paint on a glass top table. So i paint the area of the table/glass with water in the exact area where the paper will be. Then I paint the back of the paper with water from edge to edge. Wetting it evenly. Then I coalesce the paper onto the wet glass top and smooth it out to eliminate any air bubbles. Use a paper towel to dry the excess water from the edge of the paper and the table around the paper. Then I immediately tape the edges down with washy tape. So far its the best thing I have found to keep even cheap paper from buckling.
As a beginner, I hadn't realized just how important the preparation of the paper is to the finished painting!
Thankyou! 🙂
A fellow aritst! Thank you Master Chen. may i respectfully add, to be helpfull. T He heaver your paper, the less it will buckel,140 wt, 300wt . lets say you made a nice painting you want to save, but it has wavy buckels after its done. put the paper on a clean smooth surface. put a clean dry smooth cloth over it, and slowly iron it lightly with a warm, "not hot" cloths iron. this takes out any moisture and smooths out the paper. i suggest you try it on a small peace first, to get the feel of it. then another way is to paste it on to a board and use a clean roller to roll out the buckles. Great video mr. Chen.
Thank you! I'm wanting to do a mixed media so my paper will not be watercolor paper but I plan to try your stretching technique on my mixed media paper.
Awesome video (:
No one talks about the gummed tape. Really useful to know that.
The pad + tape is great as well. I used to cut out the paper and tape it to a board, but that way of just turning it into a block is much better ^_^
Thank you!
:)
Liron Yanconsky B
totally thought the same thing Liron! I am always cutting out the smaller paper. Thanks for that Yong! (and I definitely had a little laugh seeing that your comment on this post is from 3yrs ago!) It's great to see how we grow as artists from other artists...that is an art in and of itself. Shalom my friend!
I appreciate so much all of your advice and instructions! Thank you!
:)
Thanks for the tips! I have been painting a few years now but have always been intimidated by watercolor and the buckling of the artwork. With your advice, I feel more confident! Thanks!!! :)
Thank you for your video. I especially like how you pay such close attention to using archival products.
:)
Ah! I always take off the tape without waiting for it to dry completely, that's why. Thank you for the tips 💙
I have my own method of ensuring my paper keeps flat while painting and after it dries. I have glued a half inch strip of sandpaper around the top face of my board.
I then wet the paper on both sides and allow the water to soak into the paper a little.
Next place the damp paper onto the board carefully aligning the edges so that they lie within the sandpaper border so that the sandpaper grips the underside of the damp paper.
Next clip half inch strips of thin beading wood on top of the paper so that it clamps the paper firmly onto the sandpaper using bulldog clips or binder clips.
As the paper dries, which can be speeded up using a hair dryer, it tightens like a drum and will stay flat while you paint and when you allow it to dry after the painting is finished it tightens again to remain flat afterwards.
I use this method all of the time with my paintings.
It is good because it only takes 5 minutes to prepare, works like a charm and costs so little to make up a prepared board with the sandpaper around the top surface.
The sandpaper itself does not want to be too rough, slightly more abrasive than you would have on a finger nail sanding block or pencil sharpening block. If you use too rough a piece of sandpaper I have found that the initially damp paper sinks into it too much and it difficult to remove from the board afterwards.
I hope you find my method useful.
Would you provide pictures of your process? Thanks.
Hi Gwen, I have just created a blog post on my website, tonygart.co.uk, that hopefully explains and demonstrates the whole process for you. You can find the blog entry here on this short link: wp.me/p8sY1c-6o
If you have any problems or questions let me know.
Thank you! I looked at your blog and I think I might try that.
Tony, thanks for sharing your tips here. I visited your blog, you are a very inventive artist!
Thanks Yong Chen, I like to watch your videos and, like you, I enjoy sharing my experiences with fellow watercolour artists in the hope that I can help them overcome obstacles and gain more enjoyment from using the medium.
Wonderfull! Thankyou once again, Prof. Chen! Big hug!
Very very useful tips. All my confusions are removed. Thanks a lot.
I love this idea & will definitely try
Thank you for your wonderful, clear explanations!!
Thank you 🙏
Not all pads have the spiral rings on top. In fact thats a cheaper brand you have. Arches has a pad with the top gummed and it removes easily. I will try making it a block. But I usually tape it on my board and if I don't and it buckles I just spray the back when it's dry. And put it under some heavy books. Smooth as can be
I like your voice
Also im gonna try this ;; ive been stressing a lot about how to stretch the paper when its in a pad and wow youre a lifesaver TT Thank you ^^
:) I am glad this helps.
Awesome! I thought about foam board (Hobby Lobby (slightly warped)) but opted for masonite pegboard (almost as light and less warp). Also, I've used Lowes (scotch) masking tape ... because I use oil paints (on Arches paper) and prefer to seal out the boarder for effect.
A huge thumbs up! Utmost blessings!
Philip, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Mr. Chen, you'are awesome!
I thank you so much for such in depth explanation! It was very well explained and easy to understand! I thank you so so much! You are a great artist! :D
Thanks :)
Great tips, thank you.
this is a great tutorial! I needed this information! thank you very much! I love your art!
Excellent. Thank you.
:)
YOOO THANKS ALOT THIS HELPED ALOT!!!
Very clear thank you!
Thank you Yong💚
Back when I first started WC painting we would soak the paper over nite in the bath tub and then tape it down to a board the next day..
Very useful tips. Thanks
thank you...this was very helpful
:)
THANK YOU!!!
What tape, exactly are you using to tape the sides of the watercolor pad (the non-gummed tape)?
Thank you sir very very
Thank you.
Very useful tips. What type of tape ( Company name) is good for the watercolor paper to fix on the board?
This is a great and informative video! It really helped me decide how I wanted to stretch my paper. The only thing I got confused on was the tape portion- is just any acid free tape good, or is it supposed to be specifically acid free tape meant for paper?
Claire, any artist' tape should be good for dry-stretching. amzn.to/2LGjDMm
i have tried every one of these methods and the paper still buckles. i can always iron the paper once the painting is dry but how do i avoid the buckles while i am still painting? i have tried soaking the paper, having one side wet, having no sides wet. i have tried making blocks, using blocks (including the ones shown here) and they all buckle. everyone who posts a video like this gives the same tips but they just don't work for me. i guess i need to use 300 lb paper from now on.
Susan, keep the painting attached until it is dried completely, the paper will return to its original state. When the paper is wet as you paint, the paper will not flat as you like... There is another way to stretch the paper, that is soak the paper both side, lay it on a board for a few minutes, then start using gummed tape (you need to wet it first) to tape all sides, then wait for it dry, then start painting. This way, the paper will be flat all the time. I will make another video on the wet-stretching.
thanks you so much, i will try that. i have never let it dry before painting, so thanks for the suggestion. it is really hard to get the effect of northern lights with buckled paper, i find. thanks again
@ Susan... I've been using this technique for a little over 20 years maybe you might want to try it.
I went to my local lumbar yard, but most places that sell lumbar and building supplies like paneling and such should carry it... I bought an 8 X 4 sheet of homasote board, it's a gray textured panel used for office cubicles that are then covered in various fabrics. It's great because people can tack notes or pictures of loved ones to it without any damage... sort of like cork board but way less expensive. I believe homasote is made out of recycled cardboard heavily pressed into sheets 3/4" thick. I payed around $12 for a 8 X 4 foot sheet and had it cut in half so I had two 8 foot X 2 foot pieces... these I cut into various lengths ( it's extremely easy to cut ) some are 18 inches by 2 foot, I cut 2 to hold a full sheet of watercolor paper, but it's totally up to you.
I ended up with 8 watercolor boards for a little over $12 for all, not a bad price at all. They are light weight but extremely durable, you can staple or tack or use push pins to hold your watercolor paper down and when you remove your staple or pins there's no damage to the board unlike foam core.
I wet both sides of my watercolor paper and while it's still wet pin it to my board and then let it dry over night... the next day it's as tight as a drum. Your better watercolor paper has a certain amount of "sizing" in it... and it's not a good idea to over soak your paper as you will end up removing all the sizing... you can look up sizing on you tube if you don't already know about it... there will be some buckling using this method but it will be very minor and only for the first wash if you use tons of water... but it will be flat once it dries.
The only other method for not having any buckling at all is to use watercolor board which I use but it's quite expensive, I also use Crescent brand Illustration board in 2 and 3 ply widths, again it's expensive, the nice thing about watercolor board as well as Illustration board is there's no stretching required.
I'll gladly reply to any questions you might have concerning anything to do with watercolors as I've been at it for over 40 years.
@ Susan... I just did a little research... you can google " Homasote Company over view" and learn all about this great product and why it lasts forever, is mold resistant, termite resistant, and holds up to all kinds of weather which means it's ideal for use as a watercolor board, and even though it has gone up in price since I bought it 20 years ago it's still light years cheaper ( and better) than any watercolor board on the market. You can also google the nearest retail site where you can buy it... if you have a Home Depot near you... they carry it but be sure to google it first so if you call the retail clerk knows what you're asking for.
The first time I called the person that took the call said they didn't carry it only because they didn't know what it was or what it was used for... turns out they do have it in stock... so I'm going to recommend it to some of my students.
Wait until the paper is totally dry 24 to 48 hours inside at 20 degrees Centigrade. Just feeling dry to the touch (is not dry enough) then removing the tape the paper will buckle.
THANK U SIR
Would love to know where I can get the Acid free tape (skinny tape not the fat hinge tape) he uses to tape the side of the water color pads.
Thank you. .....😊😊
I find this video helpful, but I have a few questions.
Watercolor blocks are just sheets of paper glued on all four sizes. Since all four sides are held tightly, you don't have to pre-wet and stretch.
A sheet of watercolor paper even when held tightly on all four sides, be it with staples or tape, has to be wet and stretched first, even though it seems to be just like a watercolor block to me.
Is this true, and why the difference?
And what exactly is the determining factor of whether a watercolor paper would buckle? In this video, you mentioned different drying speeds cause buckling. In this case, isn't it possible that water would dry at different speeds on a watercolor block and cause buckling too? How does a watercolor block's glue on all four sides prevent this?
Simple answer to your questions is: a sheet of paper in a watercolor block is the same as a sheet of paper in a watercolor pad. You tape three sides of a watercolor pad, it will be just like a watercolor block. See this video of me painted a flamingo: ua-cam.com/video/YsJfL7bVi_E/v-deo.html
There's the First Doctor's bust behind you ! Really good video though
Ugo, thanks for sharing your observation.
What tape it is or what do we call it when we go to by it ?
Helpful thank you. What about Delar Rowney 100% cellulose paper? It buckles too. Is it the same process of stretching?
Thank youuuuuu
What type of board would you suggest i use with cellulose paper. And can you use kraft tape that you wet to active the glue or paintes tape.also doesn't it need to be a board like a drawing board,or a masonite board not the carboard backing of the pad,i thought it would warp too. cardboard
What’s the best tape to use? Is clear tape good to use?
Thank you for sharing this great testings, may I know how do you store your watercolor paper to avoid the expiration which looks like - a translucent look (almost see-through)?
Thank you for your video! Question - have a couple of good paintings which dried a tiny bit warped. Is there any way, after the fact, to flatten? Perhaps spray lightly, tape down and dry again? Thank you to all for your input!
I see this is a year old and no one has replied. Perhaps you have resolved this by now.. but for some who may have this issue.. You can use a regular household iron. no steam.. no water.. just the heat of the iron on a flat surface. Do not use highest heat setting.. medium to low will work... putting paper on both sides of artwork before heating / pressing. while still warm, place heavy objects on top and let cool completely. Leaving 24 to 48 hours is probably good.
I usually just rip the watercolor paper off the pad, apply it to a board with masking tape, do my painting and let it dry for a while.
:)
BTW, I tried your technique on a watercolor painting I did yesterday of a tree and it worked pretty well keeping my paper on the pad as I do it!
Since I was out of the house so I didn't want to take a board with me at the time!
I am glad to hear that :)
The price of those blocks makes no sense beautiful you can make it in any diy bocks . You can just glue down your water color paper pad to do the same . I like cutting my pads down to make four or more sheets depending on the size of the paper .smaller pads are easier to work in for me and get a bonus 4x the papper to use
Great video. Other than the Gummed Tape, what other tape do you use?
I only use gummed tape when I wet the paper and stretch it, otherwise, I use acid-free artist tape to "dry" stretch.
Thank you for your excellent videos and your quick response to my question. I'm learning a lot from you.
Do I need to wet my paper for stretching before starting painting?
If your paper is large, then you probably need to use wet stretching, but small paper (smaller than 12x16"), you don't need to.
Thank you very much for your wise reply 😊😊😊😊
Will this work with the blue painter's tape?
It could be, depends on how much water you are going to use when you paint. Have fun.
Im really scared that the tape will rip the paper cause I did that once it ripped off the paper
Press the tape to your clothes first. It will prevent it from ripping the paper :)
@@isabelleeriksson9092 ive tried that once but still ripped of the paper
🕊🇺🇲💕
Would you please put your video's on closed caption, not all people can hear what your saying. Thank you.