Posted on by Ben Lustenhouwer

How I prepare watercolour paper

This week I made a short video to show you how I stretch watercolour paper.

There are numerous professional grade, watercolour blocks on the market.  (See my last post.) But when I use single sheets, I stretch it myself, on board. This method makes it possible to work even on low quality paper in watercolour.

  1. First, I cut four strips of water-activated gummed paper tape at the correct length.
  2. Then, I moisten the water colour paper with a sponge.
  3. I leave it to absorb the water and to fully expand.
  4. I stick the wet paper onto the board and let it dry. In summer this takes an hour, in winter more than double that time.
  5. Once dry, the paper is tightly stretched.
  6. Once finished I cut, with a sharp knife, around the painting cropping the paper.

Now I can make my watercolour painting with no problems. The paper will not wrinkle when it comes into contact with water.

Portrait in watercolour
Another portrait I made this week. 35 x 40 cm

5 Replies to “How I prepare watercolour paper”

  1. echt ontzettend mooi en leerzaam!
    ik waardeer je enorm dat je je kennis met iedereen deelt.
    heel veel plezier en succes…

    1. Hi Farid.
      Dank je voor je lovende woorden.
      Wist je dat ik een geboren en getogen Soestenaar ben?

  2. Hoi Ben,
    Heb je ook een tip hoe de tape er weer af kan? Ik heb al jaren een tekening staan die ik op een plaat had vastgeplakt en ik durf hem er niet af te halen. Eerder heb ik er werk door beschadigd. Het enige wat ik durf is eruit snijden en dat kan vermoedelijk ook anders…
    Dankjewel voor het filmpje 🙂
    Hartelijke groet!
    Bea

    1. Hallo Bea.
      De enige manier is de aquarel rondom los snijden. Het plakband eraf proberen te krijgen gaat niet. Hartelijke groet terug.
      Ben

  3. Hi Ben, I find you’re work very inspiring. My wife has promised to purchase your tutorials for me so I’m very much looking forward to seeing them. In the meantime I have a couple of questions, what camera & lighting setup do you have when taking reference photo’s?, camera make would be handy to know as I am in the market to buy a new model. Secondly and I’m sure you have been asked this quite a few times, do you accept paypal as a means of purchasing the tutorials?.

    Very Best Wishes,

    Sam

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