Artist Hack - How to Tape Your Pastel Paper

Do you ever find it frustrating when you are working on a pastel painting and your marks keep bumping into the tape that overlaps the edge of your paper? In this video, I’ll reveal a tape-to-tape method so you can create bold and free marks beyond the edges of your paper! Download your guide here: mailchi.mp/ed849c470c17/l8nhk...
Get your Pastel Guide here: mailchi.mp/0b911600ddd6/paste...
Get your Pastel Paper Guide here: mailchi.mp/138008bc96c4/paste...
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[@cinnie2543]

Looks so much easier than what I've been doing. Thank you.

[@JoyceAnderson-ChristianMusic]

A thousand "Thank you's. This is wonderful information for me, a beginner in pastels.

[@Winebibbler]

I've been doing this for years and it really is a great way to work with pastel. Thanks for sharing this with your audience.

[@AlainPicard]

🙌 you bet!

[@ivadellmarie407]

I learned this way back when from Maggie Price. Best way to tape. Thanks for sharing and explaining it well.

[@AlainPicard]

Thanks for watching! Maggie Price was amazing.

[@joannschoenleber813]

Thanks maestro I’ve learned so many pastel hacks from you over the years. You’re the best. Those lily pads rock!!

[@AlainPicard]

Appreciate it Joann, keep painting! Thank you

[@aysenurotman6483]

It's very clever way doing it. Thanks

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

Thanks for showing us this. But some people like to have a small overlap to the paper, which gives a 1/4 inch or so boarder around the painting. It makes it easier to handle, plus will get covered up when framing with spacers or a matte anyway.

[@flooklh]

Thank you Alain. This is a problem I've been struggling with. Now I have the solution.

[@AlainPicard]

Always a pleasure to help!

[@davehoque5050]

Thank you Alain! Truly a functional and handy hack. You are ALWAYS so selfless with your tips and detailed instruction. I can easily speak for many of us by saying thank you and God Bless you.

[@AlainPicard]

That is very warmly received Dave, thank you! God bless you too, and keep painting!

[@davidhoque5864]

@@AlainPicard ❤️👍🏼

[@dulcieogilvie5786]

Ha!! Brilliant!! Thank you xx

[@bernbom712]

Brilliant!

[@luzaguzman6306]

excellent tip thank you!

[@DesignsbyCADPRO]

wow... im using this method from now on!

[@AlainPicard]

Sounds great, enjoy and keep painting!

[@danyelhudon458]

TKY very much! Indeed, it is a mater to think about it few secondes! It is often simple things which it is making our artworks more easy yo come!

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Very useful trick...thats quite intelligent 👌thank you

[@AlainPicard]

Most welcome, keep painting!

[@miroslavaalvarez9699]

I can’t believe I’ve never think of this 😂 Thanks !!

[@AlainPicard]

I am so happy to help!

[@richardcohen3701]

As usual, a great video! Thanks for the tip. Best to you and Marjam

[@michep.169]

thanks. Very helpful

[@eileenparker5656]

Wonderful technique and use of color. Look forward to the class. Thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You’re welcome Eileen! See you there!

[@kamleshsunak3176]

Thank you Alain for sharing this technique!

[@AlainPicard]

You bet Kamlesh, keep up the beautiful work!

[@gailmcbride6924]

What a simple solution! Thanks for sharing!

[@AlainPicard]

Glad it was helpful! Keep painting Gail.

[@angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl]

These colors are amazing 🤩

[@ChristopherHemsworthCreative]

TERRIFIC tip! Thanks so much Alain!

[@schill1758]

What a great idea! Thank you for sharing!

[@AlainPicard]

glad you found it helpful!

[@doloresvincent8987]

I realy like the painting behind you!

[@mjpete27]

Hullo Alain, an excellent video and well explained too! I have use a similar method to mount pictures under mats or when floating beneath a mat. This will be my go to method for mounting my paper to my easel boards from now on. Thanks!

[@deeanncross7674]

Thanks for the demo and guide.

[@AlainPicard]

sure, my pleasure, happy to help!

[@BoysBarn]

Nice. Thx for sharing!

[@AlainPicard]

No problem! All my best

[@marinabuivolova4260]

Thank you so much 👍 I like to watch your videos. After the each videos I'm taking my pastels and and ......

[@nanamiss1793]

I loved this technique ❤ so easy to do it before working 👍

[@AlainPicard]

Happy to help! Keep painting

[@teresawright5654]

Fantastic idea thank you for sharing!!!

[@AlainPicard]

You bet! Keep painting Teresa

[@kellyflanagan7632]

Very helpful information, thank you!

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Kelly!

[@lynnquast72]

Wonderful info!!!! Thanks so much!!!😊

[@AlainPicard]

happy to help Lynn!

[@reganbothma5435]

Amazing never knew this trick. Absolutely awesome thanks 🙏

[@AlainPicard]

glad it helps!

[@oksanagreer6527]

Thank you for sharing!

[@AlainPicard]

You’re welcome Oksana! All my best

[@kerryhelelr8037]

Perfect. Thank you

[@AlainPicard]

You are very welcome Kerry!

[@loopylinda6108]

Thank you Alain😊

[@AlainPicard]

My pleasure Linda, keep painting!

[@mcrawford5877]

This is so helpful. I was using big clips because I use a thick felted mat board to paint on in large sizes. The clips were denting the edges of my painting. However, I believe this will work if I use enough tape. Thank you so much! I’m going to try it this week.

[@AlainPicard]

You are so welcome! All my best

[@pamelalyon22]

good idea!

[@AlainPicard]

Glad you think so Pamela!

[@rosaliefunk1629]

Thanks so much!

[@AlainPicard]

You're welcome, keep painting!

[@shoshishmul2322]

Thank you⚘️

[@AlainPicard]

You’re welcome 😊

[@eleisatrampler]

I've done this only on the corners of the paper(I use textured papers more than sanded ones). It saves tape and I prefer a dry underpainting on my textured papers.

[@AlainPicard]

that's great, you're right if the paper is lighter you don't need all the extra tape. Keep painting Eleisa!

[@jeannetteastigger6814]

Thankyou so much. Now I have to find out how to purchase the materials you mention. Jeannette

[@M.O.1981]

Thank you.

[@AlainPicard]

You're welcome! All my best

[@paintergal]

Terrific technique

[@AlainPicard]

glad it's helpful, all my best Margie!

[@dhirachakraborty9696]

Hi Alain, I learned this method from Karen Margulis and find it very useful to get to the corners. However, the artists tape is quite dearer and tricky to source here in the UK. I usually use the low tack masking tape and so far it has worked on both the UART and PastelMat papers. I love UART but have used it only unmounted. I have run into the obvious problem that the paper curls up from both ends. I am trying to explore the DIY mounting route, have seen your video on that as well. Again, can't source the adhesive rolls here in the UK, so experimenting with 3M spray mount, Acid-free foam core and UART paper.

[@AlainPicard]

I am pretty sure Crescent sells an adhesive backed museum board that you can just peel and adhere your paper to. That would be nice and easy!

[@bruceboatner3877]

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest!

[@AlainPicard]

That is so true!

[@bruceboatner3877]

@@AlainPicard one subtle, but surprisingly important benefit of getting the dang tape out of the way, is that it improves our overall composition by encouraging us to consider the entire image holistically. Otherwise we tend to paint "things" instead of creating an overall Gestalt.

[@coletterahal9804]

Thanks Alain

[@AlainPicard]

my pleasure Colette, keep painting!

[@billyclemens]

Thanks for the info Alain, hope you are doing well.

[@AlainPicard]

you bet, Billy, doing well thanks. Keep painting!

[@joelleledoux6351]

Thanks a lot 🎨👏👍🇫🇷

[@mailie6403]

Why didn't I think of that! 🙄

[@AlainPicard]

glad it helps!

[@kristinemorris3534]

Thanks for this, Alain. What if we need to leave an edge for the matting material and we don't want the mat to cover any part of the painting?

[@AlainPicard]

I would adhere thin strips of matboard behind your cut mat to create a small gap between the mat and the pastel. That way, if pastel dust ever falls, it will fall into the gap behind the mat not onto the matboard itself. The 4ply matboard strips are a good width to create a small gap. Hope that makes sense! You can always mount your pastel paper to a museum board that has extra space around the sanded paper for matting if that is what you hope to do. Dakota Pastels sells mounted boards like this with a border for matting. Check them out here www.dakotapastels.com/products/Dakota-UArt-Boards

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

Why most of the pastel artists love pastelmat unlike UART sanded paper? Is it better than UART? Whats your opinion on this?

[@AlainPicard]

UART is great, and Pastelmat is also great, but for different reasons. They each have a unique opportunity to paint on. I use them both regularly

[@marjo-riittareinikainen9740]

The tape is not going to be forever in contact with the paper. For that, has the tape really be acid free?

[@AlainPicard]

I use Pro Art tape so that I can have peace of mind leaving it on the art when needed. It also looks great and has the perfect amount of tack, not too weak, yet not overly strong. Tape doesn't always come off easily. And masking tape is high tack so if you leave it on, it may not peel off easily. But if you are taking it off, no problem, you can use whatever works for you providing it removes well.

[@haulhaulina964]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@debbiethompson262]

When I do it, the tape shows through from the back.

[@dorothygladsjo3510]

Yes, a line developed where edge of tape on back was…so I just made my paper 1/2” bigger than framed area

[@AlainPicard]

What kind of paper are you using? Sanded and coated papers are quite thick. You can use a modified approach if the paper is thinner to only tape smaller sections if it is lighter to hold.

[@AlainPicard]

@@dorothygladsjo3510 good idea, that works!

[@MudvinGudriy]

hmmm... i use double sided tape.

[@AlainPicard]

I mount my pastel paper with double sided adhesive mounting sheets. But that's permanent. When tacking to the easel backing board, I want to remove it shortly after, so this method works well for removal without damage. All my best!

[@glennlavertu3644]

I prefer the border tbh. It is more formal looking. Filling up right up to the edge feels cheap.

[@AlainPicard]

It's really a function of your ultimate framing decision. I frame most of my work in a non-mat painting style, and mount to boards so I can frame in a painting frame. A border helps with a matting. It's certainly not at all cheaper, just freer to work on. I hope that helps you see the perspective. Keep painting!

[@glennlavertu3644]

@@AlainPicard I can see this if you treat the work as a painting. Somehow even unframed this might work. In terms of the work as a drawing a different presentation seems more appropriate. As of late i float my works rather than allow the matte to pin it down. This feels somewhere between the tradition framing for drawing and painting.

[@glennlavertu3644]

I realize these are all minor preferences, but out of curiosity, why wouldn't you simply adhere the paper to the board prior to working on it?

[@mjpete27]

@@glennlavertu3644 Cost! Money comes down to most of our decisions when thinking about finished artworks does it not? Well that is why I wait. Yours and Alain's reasons might be different?

[@AlainPicard]

@@glennlavertu3644 floating looks modern, really nice approach