Flatten watercolor painting and turn watercolor pads into blocks - Tips Tuesday

Today I want to share with you how to fix a buckled painting, and turn your cheap watercolor pad into a high-end block.
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[@Yorky222]

A tip, when inserting the palette knife angle it slightly upwards to the back of your painting, and avoid touching the new sheet or it will show as a dark line when you apply a wash.

[@carlred6476]

Artist for 50 yrs. here. Finally getting around to watercolor. Like you I tend to be impatient, so have always shied away. THANK YOU for these suggestions. I have found many elaborate and time-consuming ways to deal with paper warp. Some of them were kinda weird funny. The paper pad block seems to be ideal. I live in the desert, so dry times are brief out here.

[@paulah317]

I flatten my paintings by using an iron. Dampen the back, .put face down on clean paper and put a white flour sack towel on top, iron it on cotton setting. Then put heavy books on top until cooled off. Takes 20 minutes or less from start to finish.

[@chantaldupuis9742]

Did try that once but someone had use a stiffening products for shirts before and I ruined my painting.

[@debrapolenz4962]

@@chantaldupuis9742 This took 2 minutes versus 20

[@ChantalDupuis]

@@debrapolenz4962 you are not answering the right person.

[@nanbread4704]

Mind blown! I WILL block all my pads. Thanks Eric

[@Becktastic01]

Excellent video as always, you explain everything so clearly. You don’t sound condescending, just polite and friendly. Thank you for this advice, it will be helpful.

[@leannesawtell1155]

Totally agree

[@robmcshane6907]

And you solve another problem with ease...you're a wiz! Thanks, Eric

[@Cafewatercolor]

Thank you as always Rob ☺️

[@dougrutherford3848]

I finally tried converting a pad into a block.. Thanks for the tip, Eric. For comparison, an Arches rough 9x12 12-sheet pad costs $29.12 CAD at Amazon. An Arches rough 9x12 block is $66.00 CAD.

[@stalean0301]

What a wonderful, economical idea. Thank you so much! One tip so you don't have to be so careful if you happen to get medium or gel on the top sheet is to use washi tape around the edges--same as if you were getting ready to paint and leave a white border for framing.

[@Pugs25]

I use plastic corrulated sheeting which I wet with water and then water my paper and 'stick' it to the sheet. Works well.

[@ysvry]

great tips eric thx for sharing all your watercolor knowledge. About the mumbling stop worrying about it, for me it just adds value to your lessons relaxes me and give me an insight in what your train of thoughts are while working.

[@bigjohnnygee123]

What a tip for turning a pad into a block! Cheers!

[@tziporaneemanfeder1813]

I simply love your Tuesday tips ! So practical, short and to the point. Thank you so much.

[@BarbrajoanOriginals]

Eric , like you, I only use blocks and never have a problem, but I love this idea of turning a pad into a block. Thank you for all you do . Barbrajoan

[@nonzerosum8943]

Café Watercolour.. This was a very good idea..,I'm really picky as my professio n before retirement was 50 years as "freehand pinstriping, I bring that up as reference because its impossible to gain a reputation if your work isn't as perfectly straight & uniform as humanly possible. Your reasoning on this area of wrinkled paper is very good. How I now keep my artistic interests alive now #1 graphite portraits, ...& #2 b I love the "light" quality it watercolour which may be the most difficult to get good at. I also have experimented with thinning acrylic paints and use in the glaze technique. But I absolutely cannot stand spending hours/days on a water based painting and see all the wavy warping. As a retired man I don't have a budget to buy the best quality materials, but life has taught me that with some forethought...one can have reasonably great results by finding persons as yourself to learn the "ropes" I have an old sketch pad I rarely use, but maybe only 90lb wt. My regular pads are 140lb Strathmore & Canson Creme. I subscribed to you as I rarely subscribe but you seem very serious minded no cute chatter. 👍 Paolo

[@christinehill6887]

Love the block idea!

[@nancynewlin]

Really useful tips, Eric. Keep going with Tips Tuesday!

[@barriolson312]

Great idea. I had thought there must be a way to turn pads into blocks, but had no idea how. So went looking, found your video which so clearly explained how and with what. Today I turned 3 pads..a cheap one, another cheaper one (so nice to paint on a flat surface) and an Arches (which I used to buy in blocks for more $ than the pads). Already have started a painting on one of the cheaper pads, which now feels more expensive. Thank you!

[@purity2706]

Thank you, Eric, valuable information that most teachers don't share. I'm going to be signing up for AE's class this week, so we will be classmates!! Can't wait to be taught and interact with professional artists, as well as intermediates like me!!

[@mariegamber]

What a great idea! You are so creative. I am going to do that to my pads this afternoon! Thanks

[@jtpaar1732]

Never would have thought of turning the pad into a block! Excellent, useful tip! Thank you, Eric.

[@angelasmith3986]

Thank you! Excellent tips!

[@SarahAndBoston]

Excellent tips! So useful, thanks!

[@hummerlady54]

I needed this instruction today. Thank you!

[@sallysims5090]

Thanks for the block-making tip, Eric. Helpful!

[@pirate1958]

Great info, thank you for sharing with us

[@annettefournier9655]

Brilliant! I have gel medium. I'm going to make blocks! Thank you 😊

[@JamesWilliams-uf1gu]

That's a great tip Eric for turning a pad into a block. I will be sure to try that...thanks!

[@VagoniusThicket]

White glue like Elmers works great for making blocks.

[@katethomas6705]

Thanks Eric, very helpful and timely for me. Also I have an old drawing block and have struggled to separate pages, will look for a gap now.

[@alinak.5227]

Wow, these tips are extremely useful! Thank you very much for posting this.

[@margaretmartin6620]

Great tips, Eric. Thank you. I used to iron my paintings on the back with a protective layer of something and a steam iron. :)

[@debbiereed8341]

What a fantastic idea to make a block out of a pad. Thank you for showing how to do this.

[@carrollwilson5169]

Brilliant tips Eric, thank you so much

[@arteworld]

This was just what I was looking for.. you explained it so well.. Thank you so much 😊 💐

[@LisaIngArt]

So inspiring and nice video !!!! It’s a great tutorial ! Thanks !

[@oart2472]

I think painting is a very simple matter, especially watercolor. But you always have a lot to share. I also like to listen. After listening for a few years, it makes sense and gains. Thank you for sharing! 👍!

[@MariaOrtiz-ww9mp]

This Tuesday ‘s tip it’s very good! Thanks.

[@MoMaryR]

Someone on a FB Group recommended your video for buckled paper, and I'm glad they did. Thank you

[@tracyvis2101]

I tried this and it worked great!!! I used Liquitex Matte Medium. Thanks for sharing :)

[@jennywhisconier7777]

Wow - great tip on creating a block from a pad! TY!

[@phyllisbaird2423]

Thank you for all your helpful tips. I love your work. I found you on KZbin when I saw a watercolor of your wife it was so beautiful.

[@Pugs25]

Thank-you Eric. Always learn something valuable from you.!

[@anilvinayakan7000]

very practical tip. Thanks Eric.

[@milaronyartgallery4667]

Beautiful painting. I love it.

[@paulacampbell6683]

Love the idea for creating a block out of a pad!! Thank you, cant wait to try this.

[@susanhepburn6040]

What an excellent & practical tip about turning watercolour pads into blocks! Brilliant! Thank you so much!

[@jojoshane]

Really helpful, thank you Eric!

[@chantaldupuis9742]

Great tip! Will definitely try that (pad to block conversion)!

[@robertalovell8520]

Brilliant! As a beginner watercolor "artist" I am loving your channel, and these two tips are great!

[@nicoleperron3315]

Wow thanks, have to buy some matte medium, so cool!

[@Ms1lonewolf]

WOW thank you so much ❤️! I always wondered how they made blocks. Thanks for sharing 🌞😎🌴 FL.

[@savillah]

What great ideas!!! Definitely doing this.

[@cristinasalesluis3075]

Very useful tip! Thank you Eric!

[@monami7092]

Thank you Eric! I was very useful tip.

[@benoitpigois1624]

So useful tips, thank you

[@aliciamolloy5948]

Hi Eric thank you for your tip!

[@robertocatrone715]

fantastic idea. thank you

[@serapU.]

Paper flatten worked! Thank you very much:))

[@AnnetteZimmerman]

Super useful, thank you!

[@sharonmcmichael4690]

Perfect timing for me to find this!

[@patnicotera4912]

Great info as usual. TY

[@user-if8bb5eq7p]

This is sooooo helpful, Eric. Thank you. Your channel is great.

[@cindyknight6989]

Great tips...thanks!

[@a.humphries8678]

I read somewhere also you can use bookbinders glue for turning pad into block.

[@padmavatienterprise4223]

Your way of teaching is simply amazing keep it up. Thanks a lot Eric

[@padmavatienterprise4223]

Thanks for the reply We will like to have special videos on shadows making in watercolor of different things like, tree, water, glass objects, silk co Clothes etc... If possible 🙏🙏🙏

[@leannesawtell1155]

I’ve just discovered your KZbin Eric, you have such a lovely manner and put everything into simple terms. You have a new fan and subscriber, I’m also just discovering watercolours. Thanks so much for this money saving tip

[@jacintheboudreau5459]

Very helpful 👍 Thank you and have a wonderful day💫

[@TheLeahsKitchen]

Super useful - thanks

[@debrapolenz4962]

Thanks so much, was just wondering how I could make my own pads into blocks!

[@jackscat]

哇哦~這原來就是"四面封膠"的手工方法~這個方法真好~謝謝老師!

[@ScottFree45]

Thank you

[@rosine2]

Thank you very much

[@rjlausartDesign]

amazing tips..

[@mygranddaughterstungac7232]

Thanks👍

[@catherinevangass4927]

Thank you, especially the pad to block method. I wonder if normal PVA glue will work as well?

[@kenanmorg4677]

That's one of my biggest complaints about watercolor; my paintings turn out wavy and warped and unsuitable for framing. This is a cheap and easy way to remedy that situation and I'll be sure to try it next time I want to use watercolor. Thanks for this.

[@michaelrussell220]

I wonder if PVA (white, wood) glue would work as well. It would be nice to have a demo on framing pictures sometime too, please Eric. Many thanks for your videos, which I think are the best instructional watercolour videos on KZbin.

[@Cafewatercolor]

I don’t know but try on some other scrap paper first, and I’ll say apply a thin coat first

[@BackyardTattoo]

Is the transparent PVA glue ok as well?

[@kashivishwanath7603]

Dear Eric. Great tip. Did not know these techniques for flatining art paper. Thanks. Can we do all grades of paper example 175 gsm, 300 gsm etc. 👍👍👍

[@Cafewatercolor]

Should be ok :)

[@CoCoComet]

This is very useful, thanks! Would vinyl glue work as well? Or will it be too strong/not strong enough?

[@Cafewatercolor]

I am not sure, but test it out on a scrap paper and see ☺️

[@MariaOrtiz-ww9mp]

Eric, why you did not post in you tube Saturday’s night painting process ?

[@Cafewatercolor]

It will be up tomorrow =)

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

I tried making a block with hot glue once. It was a disaster. This looks much easier and safer. 🙂

[@batiasenft347]

thanks for de tips wat kind of paper doe you use for watercolors

[@Cafewatercolor]

I used different varieties of paper, Saunders, Bao Hong, MozArt, depend on what I want to do

[@pjs3514]

Who knew? Lol. Great idea

[@dwightthompson5628]

I have used padding glue for years with no problem.

[@lysareyes8098]

Heyyy eric. Do you have instagram?

[@Cafewatercolor]

yes! instagram.com/cafewatercolor/

[@roseechols800]

Can you use white blue to do this?

[@carolyngibbons7614]

Ai