how to stretch a cockled watercolor painting

Watercolor artists often experience that no matter how good the pre painting stretching of paper is, the paper still gets cockled or warped after they have finished the painting. I have experienced paper as heavy as 300gsm or even 650gsm getting cockled during painting. Artists try to flatten it by keeping under the mattress etc. but that does not help. This video demonstrates how to stretch or flatten a cockled painting. In fact it is no longer necessary to stretch the paper before painting. My blog has all the details. www.vijaykiyawa...

[@smarchx19]

Oh my SOUL. I worked for weeks on a large commission for a client and it had completely warped. This is the first time it's ever happened to me and I have been SO stressed out over it. I decided to try your method and this morning I went to check on it--COMPLETELY FLAT! Looks perfect and brand new!!! I could cry!! Thank you soooo much for sharing your wisdom with us! You saved my life here!

[@kiyawatv1]

I am delighted to hear this. Thanks indeed.

[@evelien809]

I just had to leave a comment, because I tried so many things but never with success. I tried this technique and my paper is absolutely flat. Thank you so much for sharing this knowledge with us! 🙏🏼

[@kiyawatv1]

I am so happy to hear your success story using the flattening technique that I practise. Great, keep it up.

[@TIme2BelieveInMe]

Beautifully explained Vijay! I can confirm, this is the best method bar none, post painting, to flatten out buckled paper. I know this because, I have been doing a similar process for years now to save paintings from the recycle bin. However, the part of the process that Vijay explains so well and I managed to have skipped with my first attempts, is the need for a super dry towel underneath the painting when wetting the back. I must admit I learned this the hard way, as I have undoubtedly ruined many paintings by skipping that step. Thank you for this amazing video that I'm certain will help so many water colorists out there, who are stuck with heavy buckling on some of their best works. Thank you for emphasizing the dry towel aspect, SO IMPORTANT!!! BEST VIDEO IMO on this topic!!! Cheers and Happy Painting to ALL!

[@kiyawatv1]

I am so happy to read your experience and noticing the importance of dry towel. Keep painting.

[@profgoodheart]

Your work is really beautiful, thank you for helping us to save hours of work!

[@lalitarochanakorn3592]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your explanation is easy to follow. It works perfectly for me.

[@kiyawatv1]

Nice to hear that Lalita.

[@krisse33]

Thank you so much for the tutorial! Your flower painting is the nicest I have seen! I really love it!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thats very kind comment indeed. Thanks

[@rodneydlocks8373]

Dear Vijay, sometime back, I used your method for straightening a water colour painting of mine and it proved 100% successful. Having just completed another water colour painting which cockled, having used mainly a 'wet on wet' technique, I was fortunate enough to find you video again and to follow through your very clear instructions, thus perfecting my 'masterpiece', now likely to be displayed in USA. Just to again express my appreciation to you for the video and and also to say how much I enjoyed seeing your beautiful floral painting. Best wishes.

[@kiyawatv1]

Dear Rodney, I am delighted to hear from you. It makes me feel happy that a fellow artist adopted this technique successfully. I wish you good luck with the display in some exhibition in the US. By the way, where do you live in the US? I sometimes visit my son in Berkeley-California.

[@rodneydlocks8373]

@@kiyawatv1 Many thanks for your response. The USA connection is a family one but in Florida. I live in UK. So good to make contact again.

[@profgoodheart]

Thank you so much for your video! I had a major problem with a painting because of the many layers of colour and it was perfect, except for the cockeling... I will do what you have shown, even more than once if necessary! Whew! What a relief!

[@kiyawatv1]

Do try and let me know if it worked.

[@vanessaswindell499]

This is the best method I’ve ever seen and can’t wait to try it! Thank you.

[@gorway7]

Thank you so much for this... I have flattened small watercolour sketches in the past with some varying degrees of success, by placing upside down on a table, misting the back with water from a spray bottle, placing a clean tea towel over it then piling several large books on top overnight. My method was somewhat unreliable on occasion, with permanent set creases occurring on anything beyond 1/8th sheet size. I look forward to trying this.

[@kiyawatv1]

Did you succeed Peter? I am curious to know.

[@gorway7]

Hi Vijay, I had some mixed success the first few tries. I think it was to do with obtaining consistent wetting and some of my cheap cellulose based practice papers were problematic, but the 90-140 lb Fabriano rag papers I use re-stretch perfectly. I did have some problems with the masking tape, the stuff in the UK now is very low tack (not like the old drafting tape) so getting it to stick can be a real pain. I managed to find some industrial 'blue' masking tape online that now works great. Thanks again for the great tutorial!

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy Peter. Yes, the tape has to be of good quality. Sometimes I even use the gum paper tape that has good sticking property. But this demands a bit extra margin at the border because the gum tape is not archival and has to be cut off.

[@kjana2005]

Hi Peter, I usually steam iron on the reverse. It works perfectly with Arches 300gsm

[@kiyawatv1]

I will try this Janakan

[@jbeoin]

Thank you SO MUCH! My paper has been driving me up the wall lately, and I really appreciate this tip! Can't wait to try it

[@jbeoin]

Also, I was so excited I forgot to mention-- your painting is so beautiful! I really love the light and colors

[@kiyawatv1]

Jessi Eoin please do try and let me have your feedback.

[@priscilla4644]

Thank you that was so interesting and effective. It is reassuring that you can rescue a painting that has ripples in it.

[@nathaliedouble483]

Thank you so much for this tip. Your painting is so beautiful. You're very talented.

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks. I would love to get feedback if you try the flattening technique.

[@sheer9568]

What a calm and composed teacher you are!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Sheer. I would be keen to know the outcome of your trial if you did one. Thanks

[@sandrajohnson2489]

Beautiful painting! I was skeptical at first and am glad the paper straightened out. I will do this with some of mine. I don't paint as large as you do but the paper still can buckle.

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy you succeeded.

[@MaxMoser-Art]

Thank you so much for this great technique! I tried it and it works absolutely perfect!! Best result i ever had. The painting looks like a new sheet of paper =D

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy for you dear Max.

[@rodneydlocks8373]

Just a brilliant demonstration to readily solve a cockled painting. Thank you very much.

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy Rodney.

[@kut2o2]

You have done a service to painters through this video. God bless you

[@kiyawatv1]

I am delighted. Please do inform the outcome of any trials you do.

[@neeruda1980]

Thanks so much Sir for this info since I was struggling with the same problem.

[@kiyawatv1]

Nice to know that Neerad.

[@powerobxxx]

Fantastic process Vijay, I will definitely try this next time my paper goes like that.

[@22GmaRocky]

Great information! I just love the painting itself ❤️❤️❤️

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Roxann. I hope you will try the technique some day and send me your feedback.

[@coogimccann6829]

Beautiful painting! Great tips, thank you 🙏🏻

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks. Please try the technique and send me feedback.

[@malinschuberterlandsson7192]

What a great tutorial, thank you. I am trying this very moment☺️. And a beautiful flower painting!

[@jenniferangell2630]

Thank you so much! Very well done.

[@Nancy-tr5fi]

Love your paintings.

[@AmishkaM]

Thank you very much. Also I like your style of clothes. It's very modest and beautiful!

[@TheBelgianTerror]

Thank you very much! You just saved my girlfriends art project! :)

[@kiyawatv1]

Jajoeka. I am happy.

[@lefthandstory1280]

This look beautiful ,awesome friend😃✌️.

[@paromitadesarkar1677]

I would try this technique Mr. Kiyawat. Very detailed instructions. Thank you.🙏

[@kiyawatv1]

Do try Paromita and let me know the outcome.

[@monicaparson6118]

THIS was VERY helpful~wish you'd entitled it Flattening a BUCKLED wc painting, bc that's what we say here in the US. But thank you SO much! A GREAT informational video!! THANK YOU!

[@judithtordoir]

Thank you for your advice on stretching water color paper! Just came by your vid.. greetings from the Netherlands 🇳🇱 on this day 20th February 2020!

[@ropi8739]

Such beautiful painting that is!! And those on the wall as well

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks. Did you try the warp removing technique?

[@ropi8739]

@@kiyawatv1 Not this way. I have just seen this and for the moment I don't have any warped painting. I usually vaporize the back of the painting and put it between two clean sheets, with weight on it.

[@kiyawatv1]

@@ropi8739 You could try my technique next time, for better results.

[@ropi8739]

I am a beginner and don't paint much, and of course I hope paper won't warp! But this method is good to keep in mind for sure

[@lugenedelozier6753]

Thank you for your wisdom--I appreciate it. I have a BIG painting that buckled--I'm going to try it!!

[@kiyawatv1]

Please do let me know the results.

[@kiyawatv1]

Did you try the large painting? How did it go? What was the size?

[@Droidzi]

thank you - very neice peice of art you created

[@nafordebi]

thank you very much , this is very informative and the painting is beautiful ! you are a talented artist

[@johnnaber4285]

Your method worked beautifully! I too, have tried wetting and using heavy books to very limited success. Thank you for this video.

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy.

[@suziehadeed1959]

Great info and explanation. Thank You so much

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks. Please let me know the result if you try this technique.

[@anthonydimichele837]

Thank you! Great technique to salvage buckled paintings!

[@alleynanci]

Thanks so much! Beautiful painting!

[@vinodojha8653]

thanks for this awesome video. i used this technique to smooth the pages of my art journal and the results were as good as possible, and thanks to you now i can paint on the back surface of the paper too

[@kiyawatv1]

Dear Vinod, I am so happy to hear that. Thanks for the feedback. Where do you live and how can I see your works? Mine are on vijaykiyawat.com

[@vinodojha8653]

thanks for such a quick reply. actually i am a 16 year old beginning artist practicing in India, Dehradun and don't have a blog or website to display my arts, but now that you have struck the cords i think that i might as well make one.

[@kiyawatv1]

Oh that's interesting Vinod. Would be happy to see when it is ready. All the best in the meantime.

[@vinodojha8653]

are you on facebook? i feel that i can learn a lot of things from you

[@kiyawatv1]

Yes I am.

[@beckymendoza8894]

Thank you for sharing I like this method the best🙂

[@nathandrushinin1072]

That's fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing! 😃

[@jkomen]

Beautiful painting! This technique has worked well for me-Thank you!

[@kiyawatv1]

I am so happy.

[@karolfrench5816]

Wondeful THANKYOU very much.

[@unbleebubblebubble566]

Amazing tutorial thank you very much.

[@LS-yp5yj]

Very nicely taught. I have a painting I will use this with...lol, because I forgot to stretch it to begin with.

[@kiyawatv1]

Even if you stretch before painting it is likely that after the painting is done the paper would get cockled. So, I do not stretch before painting.

[@henrycastle1]

❤️ All the way from Oxfordshire U.K Thank you

[@SebastianTinajero]

Thank you for this video i have few paintings I'd like to fix

[@barbaralinderman]

Thank you very much for this helpful tip on how to fix wrinkled watercolour paintings

[@kiyawatv1]

Dear Barbara, I am happy you found the video educative. Did you succeed? In which country do you live? Vijay

[@kiyawatv1]

Great

[@catherinelevison3310]

Thank you for helping with this problem.

[@daliaklein1212]

I appreciate your video very very much. Thank you.

[@godislove8050]

Beautiful painting.

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks.

[@tainahollo]

Your painting is great!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Taina. In which country do you live?. Did you try to flatten your painting using this technique? When you do, please let me know the results. Thanks. Vijay

[@tainahollo]

Hello! I live in Finland and I started to paint just a year and a half ago. I have had problems with cockled paintings; specially the bigger ones seem to be prone to buckling. I used to wet the paper and stretch it with artist's paper tape before painting, but it usually started to unfasten almost right away. No wonder many watercolour artists do not stretch their papers beforehand any more! I will try your system next time I have this kind of problem.

[@alesiaarnold4259]

Thank you so much!!

[@oLiMiiTzo]

Thankyou so much for your video! I love your art too!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Cathy. Please do let me know once you try the technique.

[@normaspande3141]

Thank you great idea

[@crystalheart9]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!💖

[@garbo3x]

Beautiful painting too

[@teatimewithtarryn]

very helpful! thank you!!

[@elletuppen4844]

Tthank you for this great remedy🙏🏽🌹🌹🌹

[@amandajstar]

Lovely painting.

[@agnetabjorklund9351]

THANK YOU very much. Very informative...regards from Agneta in Sweden

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Agneta. Please do give it a try and let me know if it works for you.

[@agnetabjorklund9351]

:-)

[@RubenGarcia-kc3op]

thank you great demostration

[@twilsstanton9506]

Thank you for you very useful advice.

[@shabbychick9647]

Your painting is beautiful. Thankyou for the videa.

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks

[@enrique9432]

Thanks for sharing. It works awesome.

[@kiyawatv1]

I am delighted.

[@tdelphia1]

Thank you! Very helpful technique!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Tracy. Did you try it?

[@tdelphia1]

Vijay Kiyawat Not yet, but I have a painting to try it out on soon. :-)

[@6862211]

Awesome thanks for sharing!

[@danasuperstar]

Never seen pulling by hand. Thanks.

[@Miserableplace]

nice painting as well!

[@barpoe1]

Thank you. Very useful tips!

[@kiyawatv1]

Good. I am happy.

[@karenfinneganart2480]

Thank you for this, it was very helpful 😁

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy Karen.

[@paintlady2268]

Or, you can put it face down on clean towel, put another clean cloth on the backside and iron it with medium heat and light steam.

[@kiyawatv1]

I have never tried ironing. But if it works, great.

[@YasWitch7]

Ironing doesn't work, I tried :((

[@paintlady2268]

@@YasWitch7 Bummer. Its what my art teacher does all the time. Did you use steam?

[@YasWitch7]

Paint Lady 22 yes, I used and this cockled my comission a few centimeters, I'm SO DISAPPOINTED with this fucking shit.

[@TIme2BelieveInMe]

Have tried this , also works decently but I would say overall maybe not as well. But its a wonderful option if you need to get that buckling out quicker then 24 hrs. The other way would be instead of letting the process above to dry naturally, you could also blow dry to speed up the drying time from overnight to less then 15 minutes.

[@crayonfou]

lovely thanks.

[@Nasauniverse001]

Magic. Thank you.

[@reetamaidhotmail.comtomas2689]

Good advice. Love the painting, tutorial to paint it would be nice

[@artwork6051]

Sir, this is great video regarding watercolor paper stretching n prevent from buckling. Many more artists videos are before painting, except your video is just 1 to care about those paintings, are already done n papers are buckled over time. This was amazing video. Sir ji, can you tell me, from where do you arrange 60inches x 40inches such bigger watercolor papers.

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Ayan. I procured these sheets in Delhi from an art dealer.

[@artwork6051]

@@kiyawatv1 Sir, make a painting video for us. Which gsm paper basically you are using for art? And cold press ot hot press.?

[@kiyawatv1]

@@artwork6051 Painting video-will think. Gsm-300. CP fine grained for work that needs detailing. I always use this. CP coarse grained for landscapes. HP for illustrations or architectural works.

[@artwork6051]

@@kiyawatv1 thanks a lot sir for sharing your experience.

[@sallyspires]

Amazing help! thanks

[@RanaWijayaSoe]

Greeting! If I may ask, does it work as well with huge size of watercolor paper? 55x75cm size? Should I stretching the paper first before I start to paint? Or..I no need to stretch it in the beginning and do it later after all my artwork was done, just as you shown us in this video? Im still learing it. So..will be waiting for your feedback. Thanks in advance!

[@kiyawatv1]

Sorry for late reply. Yes it works on large paper as well. I used it on 100x150cm paper and it worked. I had to repeat once to achieve perfection. No need to pre stretch.

[@satyamverma1449]

If the paper is not thick enough to bear the load of excess water applied then what is the alternative.

[@kiyawatv1]

Please do not make puddles of water. Just apply thin layer. The technique works well even on thin paper, as thin as Japanese rice paper. Be careful not to apply too much pull while stretching as otherwise you might tear the paper.

[@inevitablecraftslab]

i would pre-wet the paper. The way how you do it, water can get soaked into the towel and wettens the edges of the face down painting.

[@familylove637]

a True master artist .your blog is beautiful.

[@floraau5968]

Thank you easily explained.. how much gsm is your paper.. I work with 300gsm.

[@kiyawatv1]

I work with 300gsm too in most cases except in the case of large sizes such as 30"x40" and 40"x60" where I use 650gsm. And my experience is that for these large sizes I often repeat the process to get good results.

[@ingacivkule3144]

Hello! I would like to try your method, but does it definitely have to be a towel underneath? Could it be some other type of cloth? I have a 70x100cm painting and I don’t have a towel that big. thank you in advance! :)

[@ingridormestad9662]

A very helpful video ... thank you! :)

[@kiyawatv1]

I am happy that you found it useful. I would love to hear from you the outcome of first attempt.

[@jm-ux2yn]

this looks really practical,i will try this for sure. do you have any recommendation for what kind of board to use for watercolour paintings, that are commonly found in india?

[@kiyawatv1]

I suppose you are asking on what kind of board does one fix the watercolor paper for painting? Please clarify, so that I reply appropriaytely.

[@jm-ux2yn]

@@kiyawatv1 yes. in this video you demonstrated the technique for stretching already-painted paper on top of it.

[@kiyawatv1]

@@jm-ux2yn Okay. Great.

[@olgakoss]

Thank you!

[@elvisdee1556]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Question. Do you recommend stretching a few papers before using it for painting and storing them? And when I do use a stretched paper, do I need to tape it to the board again when I paint on it? By the way your painting in the demonstration is very beautiful. I was very moved by it.

[@kiyawatv1]

Dear Elvis, Sorry for delayed response. I have stopped stretching paper before painting these days because pre-painting stretching is never certain. I always stretch after. To your second question, the answer is yes, you need to tape it.

[@beviewright-mcphee6983]

thank you for the video very helpful :)

[@monikavonfischern4300]

Wet the back and lay a big heavy book on top and let it dry it has always worked for me

[@kiyawatv1]

Great. Sorry for delayed response.

[@cjchoi32]

Thank you Uncle for making this video!! I tried your technique on a 10x14" painting and it worked! Does it matter how large the margin is for taping? If I do this on a larger painting how large of a margin should I make?

[@kiyawatv1]

Colleen, I would go for 1 1/2" margin even for my largest painting of 40"x60" paper, but I will use 3" wide paper masking tape. If the masking tape is 2" wide, I would use two layers of masking tape with overlap, keeping the margin still 1 1/2". For some paintings of this size I kept margin of 1" but used 3" wide PVC yellow floor tape of 3M which has good holding power for lateral slip. For mid sized (22"x30") paintings I keep a standard margin of 1" and use 2" wide paper masking tape.

[@cjchoi32]

@@kiyawatv1 Thank you!! I will try this.

[@sientje1111]

THANK YOU FROM HOLLAND!

[@kiyawatv1]

Thanks Maartje. Did you try it? How was the result?

[@saramarchetto4506]

Thank you, this was very helpful and well explained! Have you got any suggestion on how to prevent the ripples in the first place?

[@kiyawatv1]

Hi Sara, I am glad you found this useful. It s difficult to avoid ripples. Ripples would be less if the paper is thick like 300gsm or above. But ripples would still be there.

[@saramarchetto4506]

Yes I use 300gr papers and they sometimes ripples anyway.Thanks for replying and for helping us learners from around the world! I will try your method on some of my finished artwork.

[@kiyawatv1]

Please try and let me know if you have been successful.

[@deborahsbackwoodsstudio1369]

thank you

[@mokkw2]

Hello Vijay, when you do this, brushing the water behind the painting, does the painting has to be already completely dry first? or is it ok if its about70-80% dry? thanks!

[@kiyawatv1]

It should be completely dry first. One reason is that the dry towel on which the painted side is resting may pick the moist paint if the painting is not fully dry. Let me if this answers your question.

[@annettefournier9655]

Brilliant!!

[@improvementTime10.3.17]

3:20 purpose of towel 4:05 do not let paper skid on the towel

[@kiyawatv1]

1. If towel is not used, the water at the edges of the sheet would seep in between the sheet and the table and if it seeps in deep enough it would spoil the painting. 2. The water at the edges of the sheet is not confined till the edge. It spreads beyond the sheet onto the towel. So, if the sheet skids, the painting below may come in contact with this water and get spoiled.

[@777-Phil]

Awesome!

[@bikramnath9766]

Please someone suggest me where can I find masking tapes or gummed paper tape in Delhi. I've been searching for them the whole day but failed to find one. Please suggest if someone knows where to find it. Thankyou.

[@kiyawatv1]

Dear Bikram, masking tapes are available in most stationery shops. Buy 2" wide. Gummed paper tapes are rare these days but you may try in Sitaram Stationery, Lajpatnagar. Ph. 01129842832.

[@loricalass4068]

I take advice seriously form someone who has such lovely work. However, I am wondering, with this method do you even ever need to pre stretch the paper before the painting?

[@kiyawatv1]

Hello, there is no need to pre stretch the paper before painting. It does not help because one would still end up with a cockled painting. I have gone thru this step and have come to conclusion that there is no need to pre stretch.

[@loricalass4068]

@@kiyawatv1 Oh how helpful. Thank you. Helpful vid, helpful comment. :-)

[@kiyawatv1]

@@loricalass4068 You are welcome.