Anyone have any suggestions on watercolor paper that doesnt bend/crinkle when wet?
watercolor paper
(18 posts) (9 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
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Jennifer
MemberAre you using watercolor paper? It is slightly textured. It is actually called "watercolor paper." I bought it last time at Staples, but I know Michael's sells it.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Yes I used watercolor paper and it still dried weird, not flat.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Sara B.
MemberWere the brushes too wet? I'm not an expert on watercoloring, but it seems like when my kids use too much water the paper gets more crinkly than if they use just a little bit.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
erin.kate
MemberWe use a painting board and wet-on-wet watercoloring which naturally lends itself to the paper drying flat.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Great, thanks Erin! I will see what happens after teh painting board, hope that helps.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Sara B.
MemberWhat is a painting board? And what is "wet-on-wet" painting? Maybe I really don't know what I'm doing with watercolors.... LOL
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
erin.kate
MemberHi Sara, We use this painting board though I'm sure you can find similar ones all over the place ... maybe Michaels or Joanns or Mardels? We're in Maine so this is local for us. :)
We use 90lb watercolor paper and gently submerge it in water then promptly sponge it onto the painting board so that it is clean and flat and smooth. Then, we use watercolor paints (primary colors ... my girls mix the colors and make their own) from a tube (liquid) versus cake paints from a tray.
Once the art is dry we can hang it up without it curling at the edges or wrinkling.
I hope that helps. I don't know all of the fancy technique behind true wet-on-wet ... I just go with these basics and it works for us. :)
Erin
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Sara B.
MemberOh, OK, so "real" watercolors come already "mixed" with water? Interesting! Can you tell I am not an artist? :P Thanks for explaining and the link!
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
I'm not a water color expert either (have dabbled in oils ages ago...) - but I think (may be wrong) that water colour paints in a tube will still require a bit more water to make it right to work with. But I might be totally out to lunch on that.....
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
erin.kate
MemberBecause we use wet paper we do not need to use much paint at all, and we do not add water to the paint. The watercolors in tubes are very rich in color and texture. We do use water to clean our brushes to move to the next color, but since our paper has been immersed in water we do not add water to the paints ... the paper is sufficiently wet. Hope that helps. :)
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Wings2fly
MemberThank you, Erin, for explaining all about watercolors. I have never used them and was at a loss. We did watch an artist paint a beautiful mountain scene with watercolors last week on pbs Create, but he did not explain these basics. Do you use the painting board on an easel?
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
erin.kate
MemberYou're welcome, Sarah. I'm learning as we go too! :)
I have my kids stand and paint and the board rests flat on the table, though it's a shorter kid-size table. I'm sure that an easel would work too.
I know that there are a lot of beautiful techniques to watercoloring and to painting in general, but we have only just begun to scratch the surface of art. It's sure fun though!
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Janell
MemberWe like to use blue masking tape (you can also use artist paper tape available at art stores) to tape down our paper to an artist board or directly to the table. We let the paper dry completely before unmasking. This allows the paper to dry flat leaving a nice unpainted edge that frames the painting.
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post -
Sara B.
MemberThanks, Erin and Janell! My 8yo LOVES art and will be so glad to get some pointers like this. :)
Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
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