How to Stretch Watercolor Paper

[@shirleymccarthy3634]

THAT'S why I've sometimes had trouble with my tape lifting after 'stretching' my watercolour paper. This is the first time I have learnt that my tape was probably too wet. I so appreciate your careful and thorough explanations, both in this video and all of the other ones that I've seen so far. Thank you, this was really helpful.

[@johnkaye4659]

Once again, I watched how to stretch watercolour paper, and I will try it, brilliant info, ty

[@jimscanoe]

I look at your finished paintings and I know you know what you are talking about-thank you so much for sharing your years of experience.

[@barbarawalsh2674]

Great information. You are a terrific teacher, communicator and brilliant artist. Thank you for being so generous with your talent.

[@rowenawallace5890]

I am so glad that you said that any weight paper including 100% cotton and blocks all buckle! I thought it was just my problem. From now on I will stretch all my paper. 😊

[@Jellybellycat]

Comments like these are so helpful for beginners. Thank you

[@mdesnica]

WHen I attended the newbie class for watercolorist, the teacher said that we should just tape the paper edges to prevent it to buckle. 😂, not exactly the truth.

[@wanderingtrainvlogs]

It would be great to see a video of you removing the painting from the board after it’s done!

[@62Baltus]

One just cuts it off wherever needed with a sharp knife, then removes the tape on the board with a wet cloth. No more magic or tricks than that

[@SKeyesPaints]

Thank you for this comprehensive tutorial. I agree with what others have said regarding your strength as a teacher. You have a calm and patient manner that has a strong impact. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@trishwoods]

Thank you so much for this demonstration! I am so thankful for how patient and thorough you are in showing how you stretch the paper and explain not only the process but the reasons for what you do. 🙂

[@nancyvaladez5099]

I am sooooo glad I found you on KZbin. You have helped me so much with my painting. This was my biggest problem because I like working wet into wet and no one has explained stretching paper so well. Thanks for doing this. I have now watched all of your videos and they have all helped me. Thanks again!!!!!

[@CarolynPritchard-h8v]

I adore you. You are so practical and understand that it's just people you're teaching. Not the small elite class of the world. You're real. Not to mention quite handsome. Oh, did i mention that. ❤😅 thank you..

[@johnpearson-phillips7464]

Hugely informative, describing things clearly. Thank you - top notch!!

[@predragdjokic3761]

Thank you so much Oliver for your time.Considering how much time it takes to make a video edit etc. it is really appritiated for every second you share with us.Also the painting you showed there is soooooo gorgeous that i can't explain 10/10.

[@lorrianedonald717]

Hi I have been considering giving watercolours a go for some time and find your explainations easy to understand. Now I realise I need a board!! So much to learn and practice, which means lots more video watching .I appreciate your work and videos.

[@ryanhenderson4868]

I literally stopped at 2:46 in because you said "don't do it 'cause I do it" haha. The blocks have been working great for me for now! Thank-you for that honest statement :)

[@susanmerila4958]

Could you please make another video to show your method for removing your painting from the board? What clean up do you do of the board itself to have it ready for taping down your next painting?

[@kmf634]

He explains at about the 7 minute mark why he doesn’t worry about removing the paper.

[@62Baltus]

You just make the tape on the board wet and off it goes, after cutting along the paper edge. Maybe use a hairdryer to remove the moisture if you want to stretch another one right away

[@MaxfieldMini]

Excellent instruction! Keep them coming 😁👍

[@susanmalolepszy2135]

That was such a helpful tutorial! I had no idea how to stretch watercolor paper! But now I know thanks to Oliver! Thank you, so very helpful ❤

[@cathyharris6477]

I just found your channel and I absolutely love your work and your teaching. Thank you!!!

[@judylarkin1978]

Thank you Oliver! A very clear demo on paper stretching! So very helpful!

[@luckyhiker3434]

Oliver, that painting you showed as an example of why you stretch paper was really nice. I liked so much about it.

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Thanks Oliver, I remember doing something similar back in Art college in the late '70s! I'm about to move up from painting quarter sheets to half imperial sheets, so this was exactly what I needed to see. Really well explained and very helpful

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

You're welcome Lois. It's funny, several people have mentioned learning this in years gone by and I couldn't help thinking as I was making the video that it was a rather old-school technique. I find it so beneficial though and it makes life so much easier with the larger sizes. I think you'll really enjoy painting larger - it was a revelation for me; I found that I had far more freedom for larger brushstrokes (important for a detail freak like me!)

[@mattwj77]

@@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442 David Curtis describes precisely the method you use in his book, "The Landscape in Watercolor." Like you, he also points out how the paper gets so tight that it lifts slightly from the board and allows the brush to glide on the surface. Old school, but a good school! QUESTION: Does the 5 minute bath change the sizing at all? I would imagine some comes off in the bath water and allows pigments to go a bit deeper into the paper? Thanks!

[@erinjohnson5754]

Thank you so much for demonstrating this process!

[@herzbabeworld]

I really like your painting, memorize me how beautiful of Sussex n UK

[@pq2667]

Oliver, thank you! You are a wonderful teacher. I so look forward to seeing every notification.

[@jcsallen3]

WONDERFUL!!!! Question though..... after you complete your painting.... how do you get it out from under that tape???????

[@jeanninekalua9016]

He cuts it out, and leaves the tape as it will be hidden behind a mat.

[@raymcerlean55]

Many thanks for this very useful video. I've watched many videos of other people stretching paper and myself have had mixed results. After leaving the paper to dry over night i find the gummed tape has not attached properly to the paper. One thing I have taken from your video is that you use heavy duty gum tape and that you dry the edge of the paper before you apply the tape. Please keep these wonderful videos going.

[@parsleybrain]

Like so many others I've often trouble with the tape lifting after stretching the paper. There are several steps I've never seen before and I'll give it a try for sure. Thanks for sharing your process. I love your work.

[@myrnalandersartist]

Best video that I've seen so far, for this subject! Thank you! 🙏

[@william123-asdf]

You are an excellent communicator, sir.

[@clairemoore2753]

Thank you. I have 3 boards so I always have paper ready to paint on. I had had an issue with the brown tape not sticking properly, so your technique is helpful. I am a new (and left handed) painter and find your videos useful.

[@doloresdominguez5805]

Thank you very much Oliver, very useful. I love your paintings.

[@sharonsunshine2532]

Thank you so much. You are a great instructor. It now does not seem as intimadating as before.

[@anne-mariesassenak9204]

Great instructional video, thank you for making it. I usually use Arches 140# (300 gsm) CP, and soak mine for 20 minutes. I find I get better results for my style of painting over soaking it for only 5 minutes. Thank you very much for clearly stating that what you do is your preference and that it works for you and that there are other ways out there for other people. I really appreciate that as so many artists have been gatekeeping art lately, saying that there is only one true way to do something.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Thanks Anne-Marie. I agree - I find the words 'right and wrong' should have very little to do with a creative endeavour. Much teaching today seems to be about creating clones that paint like 'me.' That shouldn't be the case - a good teacher should help you to paint your way. Individual expression is so important.

[@melindaavila498]

Thank you! I now know how important stretching is. I have used blocks, and been disappointed.

[@selftrue670]

What an absolutely beautiful painting, I must say! And thank you for the instruction.

[@belindahall5220]

Again, Many thanks!! After viewing many tutorials on this subject, yours has inspired me to take the time and do it properly:) 👏 Kudos Ollie!

[@Ron_DeForest]

I would love to see you do a series of videos if necessary on the full process you go through for a full painting including glazes, etc. don’t believe I’ve seen that.

[@michaeltalbot8242]

This is exelent advise apart from the use of gummed blocks do yo have any advice or ideas for a person wo has mobility issues I. E. The use of only one arm, when it comes to stretching paper, kindest regards mickT

[@appleknocker56]

I wish could stretch my paper but due to neck disability must paint smaller & do wet on wet but not near as heavy as you do! Amazing artist!

[@LuizCarlosBarbieuxOliveira]

Thank you for this useful explanation. You are amazing teacher.🙂

[@grahamknight5321]

I stretch my paper, i probably paint in a rather wet technique i guess. My process is probably overkill but i mark out a very feint pencil line to position the brown tape before soaking as i don't trust my eye to position the tape accurately enough then when dry i add some narrow white masking tape ( I know it's overkill) then when i finish the painting i remove the white tape. I then carefully wet the brown tape, let the water soak in so i can peel off the brown tape, wipe off any excess liquid, then place a handy piece of clear perspex i have to flatten the paper overnight. I know it's not necessary but it's part of the process i have adopted and works for me.

[@MaxfieldMini]

Sorry but this is my 2nd comment on this video. I'm imploring you to add more content if possible. Been bindgeing what you have available and really appreciate your precise and comprehensive instruction. You are greatly appreciated ~ Gail, Alabama, USA

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

more coming Gail......and thank you!

[@caseystorm4999]

Extremely helpful guidance Olly thankyou. Absolutely adored your gallery painting of the river arun. We really are so fortunate to have such rich landscape around us. Take care.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Indeed Casey - it's hard not to find inspiration!

[@jetteroheller6395]

Thank you very much for helping those of us who can be quite challenged by paper stretching.......you really helped me! May you and yours stay healthy and happy! Sending big hug!

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Thank you - and the same to you too

[@holigoil]

The best instruction videos.! Thank you so much Oliver you have helped refine my approach to painting in this medium.

[@elsagarciavega4333]

Allways Learning something interesting from you. Thank you very much.

[@dianehill4019]

A great tutorial for stretching watercolor. Mine always seems sub par. Glad I ran into your channel.

[@peckerdecker]

great artwork. thank you for explaining the stretching paper technique.

[@donnacarraway9182]

Thank you so much! Now I know that you are the real deal! I can’t tell you how many “teachers “ say that you don’t need to stretch paper on a block! I don’t know what they are using but for me even the blocks buckle! Thank you for making me feel like this job of stretching is actually worth it! Great on you! Love your videos!!

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Definitely worth doing Donna. All the manufacturers tell you that it won't buckle, but it's simply not true if you are using watercolour in the way that I like to use it - lots of wet-into-wet washes and glazes. If you paint like the brilliant John Yardley, for example, then you might not find it buckles so much.

[@scout1672]

It also helps with seems to be sizing on the paper.

[@RobertHopkinsArt]

Your Castle/Boat painting is absolutely wonderful!

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Thanks Robert

[@veroniquequesnel76]

I am fond of your videos!!! Very clear, cool, and i love your style ! I am not a beginner any more... so i am starting to be able to experiment your top tips ! Like painting trees for example. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I am french, and living in Togo. I want to try to paint tropical trees more accurately. I just saw your videos about trees in winter/automn then in summer !!! 😊 Would you please think about a video showing tropical foliage, and meditterranean as well...???? Best wishes.

[@kristingoethals4330]

I had a problem with lifting tape, like many people in the reactions below it seems. I'll try drying the edges, the plastic tool, more tape on the board, and maybe another board (mine is melamine). Thank you so much Oliver !

[@rebeccalyons1327]

Thank you.

[@LisaZoe86]

Thank you for another very useful video!

[@sardjonoangudi3282]

Terimakasih atas penjelasan yang rinci dan menarik. Salam dari Bandung

[@noramyshrall9700]

Thank you for your information I find it very helpful and you're awesome

[@elizabethsolart]

Thankyou Oliver, I'm going to try this technique to some paper I've got that buckles. I have to ask, How do you remove it without damaging the painting, or are you cutting the painting out with a blade? Thanks in advance ☺️

[@kmac2014]

Thanks Oliver. Very informative.

[@davidrogers3011]

Thanks for doing this. Very helpful. Much appreciated.🙂

[@paulsheldon9510]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge which is very helpful as I paint half sheets and boy do they get wet and I really don't want any more troughs!

[@leojablonski2309]

Thank you for this excellent instruction.

[@shorezamani4617]

You are wonderful teacher

[@jackiesterios1859]

Do you cut it off and does it come off when painting is dried

[@maribelteklado7491]

Thank you for sharing. You have great tutorials.

[@johncitizen3361]

Great demo, thanks for the tips. I like the white border masking tape gives me for a quick sketch but yeah even a block buckles when I get it wet enough and a nice flat surface is much nicer to work on.

[@lindadudman1624]

Thank you again for a very clear helpful video 👍

[@andrevandenheever6740]

If you have the patience for it I found that one can remove the tape afterwards by repeatedly wetting it with a brush until the water gets through to the glue. I found a soft brush cut at an angle with rather long hairs at a hardware store also helps not getting water onto the edge of the painting. When cutting the painting out I tend to leave a gap between the cut and the tape as Oliver said, since some of the glue tend to bleed through and glue the bottom of the paper to the board, so a 5 mm gap should be fine, I you don't over wet the tape like he shows.

[@sherryburnett6088]

Going to give it a try. Thank you. Loved your finished painting you showed.

[@Rubbereyes]

Brilliant, thank you.

[@betsyoglesartist]

Thank you for this demonstration. It was very helpful!

[@krismua1209]

Thank you!

[@lindsaypearce5802]

It would be interesting to know the tape you are using

[@dianemcgregor6171]

Thanks!

[@EdoHannema-Watercolour-Art]

I enjoyed it very much and learned something. even that I paint for 35 years! But to be honest I don't stretch a lot. But tomorrow I going too!

[@StuartwasDrinkell]

I got this wrong first time, missed your drying board edge trick. The tape lifted. Tried again and I must have missed a wet patch down one side. Luckily I had been keeping a watchful eye on my prepped board and caught it just in time as i noticed the tape growing an air pocket and rescued it by tightly binding masking tape all the way around my board like a belt. Phew! This langtons prestige paper makes me 😓 😬 nervous... i will follow your video to the letter next piece. Sorry I rambled, thanks Oliver.

[@inafineart]

I'm so happy that I had found your channel ❤ ... so many helpful tips, thank you, Oliver. I have one question please: is it important on what kind of surface I stretch the paper? Can I use plexiglass too or is wood better, and if yes, why?

[@Oscaro9928]

Great info for a beginner like myself….one question do you have a video of how you drew the picture of the river Aaron?

[@rachelconnor2327]

This is really helpful, thank you. I stretch my paper, and my concern has been whether it’s ok to leave that edge of gummed paper on a finished painting if you’re going to frame it. I’ll stop worrying about it 😊. Also the ruler trick looks useful. I might try that too!

[@PointOWoodsgal]

I am new to watercolor and loved this straightforward explanation. I wonder if I can soak my paper and then lay it between sheets of blotting paper I use in printmaking to absorb some of the excess water. Clean, unused blotting paper of course. I'll have to experiment with that and see if I an find a happy spot that isn't too dry or too wet to work properly in eliminating buckling.

[@ginadesperado]

I never knew we can flat our paper with this tip! thanks for your professional sharing!!! 😊 P.S I couldn't help noticing the book " the making of the British Landscape" on your bookshelf, almost falling down, lol!

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

It's a wonderful read - highly recommended

[@deevaknight8237]

Incredible artist

[@63mona]

Wooow!!! Beautiful!!

[@godivaaccioly1771]

Artista sensível, grande didata.

[@aesea57804]

The board should be smooth under the paper but there is all that residual tape left behind. When you are stretching different sizes of paper on the same board, what do you do so residue doesn’t interfere? Sand it?

[@stevencowdell5201]

Well thank you ,just solved a problem that’s been bugging me. I’ve been having the tape stuck to the board but coming off the paper.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Give it a go Steven - once you've nailed the technique I'm sure you'll find it really makes a difference.

[@yipyip2020yip]

Thank you~~ This is very helpful

[@mariaestelaconcha5800]

Muchas gracias!!! Muy útiles sugerencias para sujetar el papel!

[@johncowburn4444]

Looks easy the way you do it! Do you go round the edges with a razor to cut the painting out? And what do you do with the remaining paper on the board, leave it and paste over it with next painting or??

[@gorway7]

I used to stretch a couple of boards at a time like that so I had one handy. If I was going out for the day to paint, I would stretch a sheet on either side of a lightweight ply board and fix a sheet of drawing paper on top with masking tape to protect the painting surfaces. I tend to only work on 1/8 or 1/4 sheets though and lately I only bother to stretch the 1/4 sheets.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

It's a good idea to have a couple ready Peter. I agree about the smaller sizes.....its not always 100% necessary.

[@blackbearybears]

Do you clean the old gummy paper off the board? If so how? What thickness is the plywood board?

[@geralldus]

Thank you, very helpful.

[@monicablasiusson4184]

What about removal of the tape, with water or how?

[@bealayno442]

what side of the gummy tape? the sticky one or the other side?

[@ficheye00]

I had a roll of this tape kicking around for years. I never knew what it was for, so I tossed it. Now, several years later, I need some to do this very thing. Very strange,

[@charmaineburden609]

How do you stretch the paper please

[@CJBradley]

Buckling is the most annoying thing about WC painting. I have tried to get along with it and even stretched larger sheets only to find it still buckles.?

[@Niki1968-s2f]

Stretching paper is watercolor 101. It is good practice no matter what type of artist you are. Don’t think you should tell people it is an option. That is how bad habits are formed by people listening to social media content.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

It is an option. I stretch my paper and consider it to be a core skill, as you do. I also know a number of highly skilled fellow professional wc painters that don’t and create wonderful art. Watercolour and landscape painting is a creative exercise not an academic subject, and each practitioner should be at liberty to use whatever techniques they find to be the most helpful in order to achieve the results they need. Your inflexible approach is not how I choose to teach.

[@artsymargo]

Again, I really like this format of live chat with you, Oliver, while watching the prerecorded video. This format avoids the annoying voice chat that's common on live YT tutorials that delays content and is distracting. ("Hi Andy from Georgia. Glad to see you Mary," etc. with 20 viewers. I don't need the ego stroke of a shout out. 🤭) I realize this requires more time and work for you, but I think it's very appealing and a good way to learn from you. Side question, do you have a Patreon account yet? Your way of teaching is something I'd like to support.

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Thank you - I appreciate that. No plans for a Patreon account - I'm trying to keep as much of this content as free and accessible as possible. At some stage, I will introduce some paid content that can be downloaded, but would prefer to control that through my own platform(s) as opposed to a third party such as Patreon

[@carolannefisher1516]

Nicely done video, Oliver. One thing that you (and every other watercolorist I’ve seen discussing this topic) didn’t address - how do you get the tape off the board once you’ve cut the painting out?

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

It's not the subject of the video, but it's a good question nonetheless. You may have missed the recent video by my friend Edo Hannema on his channel......it specifically addresses this. Here's the linkkzbin.info/www/bejne/iHrQiqeIraqroNE

[@davidgreene3809]

Oliver, what a beautiful painting. Any chance you did a video while you were painting it?

[@oliverpyle-ourlandscape4442]

Thanks David - but not for this one