Stretching Paper FAQ's (Patreon)

Hi everyone,

This is a post I’ve made to answer your frequently asked questions about stretching paper.

My video where I demonstrate my paper stretching process is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31443575

The first question I get asked is: How do I remove the gummed tape from my gatorboard once I have taken my painting off? 

The answer to that is in the video above.

More FAQ's:

Why do you stretch your paper?

I stretch my paper for two reasons. The first reason is because when I have finished my painting my paper is perfectly flat. I don’t have to iron it or wet the back of it and try and flatten it out with heavy books on top of it. I’ve seen quite a few paintings that have been framed and hung in exhibitions and the paper is puckered and wavy under the glass. It’s not a look that I want for my paintings.

The second reason I stretch my paper is because it’s so much easier to paint on paper that is flat. It’s not easy painting on paper that has hills and valleys in it. Flat paper is a joy to paint on.

Do you stretch all paper?

The lightest weight paper I use is 300gsm (140lb). I always stretch it before I paint on it. If I don’t, I’ll end up with a wavy buckled painting at the end. I don’t use anything lighter than this but if I did, yes, I would definitely stretch it.

640gsm (300lb) paper does not need to be stretched. It’s beautiful to paint on but it is more expensive than the lighter weights of paper. If I paint on half a sheet of it or larger and I know I am going to work really wet I will stretch it first before I paint on it, the same way I stretch the lighter weighted paper. I have found that it will get a slight wave or bow in it if I’m using a large piece of it.

Do you stretch hot pressed paper differently to cold pressed paper?

I stretch hot pressed and cold pressed paper exactly the same way.

Do you physically stretch the paper?

No. When you stretch paper you are not actually physically stretching it. You don’t pull it to try and stretch it. When you soak it, that’s as wet as it’s going to get. It can’t get any wetter than that. Then you staple it to your board. The staples hold it in place and as it dries it tries to shrink but it can’t because the staples and gummed tape are holding it in place. Watch my paper stretching video again if you’re not sure. The link is at the top of this post.

When I staple my paper to gatorboard sometimes when I paint on it the paper will swell. Why does that happen?

Gatorboard is soft in the middle and the staples can have a hard time keeping it tight. The paper may swell a little and that might cause the staples to release slightly. You’ll find if you dry it with a hair dryer it will become completely flat again. 

Why do you use gummed tape and staples?

I use both gummed tape and staples together because they work better together than one without the other. Gummed tape would be perfect on its own if it didn’t have the tendency to become unstuck. When it stays stuck it’s perfect- no staples needed. Unfortunately it misbehaves sometimes. I can’t watch my paper as it dries so I put the staples in as a safeguard in case it starts to become unstuck. Sometimes I’ll come back to it after a few hours and the gummed tape is stuck tight and I didn’t need to put the staples in but I’d rather put them in than come back to a wavy piece of paper. 

Nita Engle who was a well known watercolourist from the US used to use staples, gummed tape and glue! She’d glue the gummed tape to the paper first. She’d paint watered down carpenters’ glue on the gummed side of the tape, place that on the paper and staple through it. That paper wasn’t going anywhere!

Can you use staples on their own without the tape on gatorboard?  

Yes you can but please see my answer to that question above.

If you switched to using wooden boards and a heavy duty builder’s stapler instead of gatorboard you will find you won’t need the gummed tape. The staples will have a stronger hold of the paper because they are in wood. I have used MDF boards and heavy duty staples in the past, before I started buying gatorboard. I cut the painting from the board when I was finished and then I had to remove the staples with a pair of pliers. I also sealed my MDF boards with a few coats of sealer before I used them.

How thick is your gatorboard?

I use 18mm (0.7inch) thick gatorboard. I buy it from art supply stores. You can buy it thinner than that but it will bow and you’ll end up with a banana shaped board to paint on.

Can you stretch a large piece of paper and then take it off the board once it’s dry, cut it into smaller sheets and paint on them?

No. Once the paper is cut off the board if you try to paint on it - it will buckle and pucker as though you haven’t stretched it at all. It needs to remain attached to your board until you finish your painting. 

There have been times when I have finished my painting, cut it from the board and then I look at it a day later and I see something I don’t like or something I want to add. If I tried to fix it when it was off the board, I’d end up making the paper wavy again. So I always try to make sure my painting is exactly the way I want it before I remove it from the board.

Do you transfer your drawing onto the paper before or after you stretch the paper?

I do both. Lately though I tend to put it on after I have stretched it. I've been using the graphite transfer method that I mentioned here on this post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37395099

If I transfer the drawing onto the paper first before I stretch it, the graphite has a tendency to 'set' on the paper when it's soaking and I have found that it is more difficult to erase the pencil lines and make them lighter when I'm ready to paint. So if you transfer your drawing on first (before stretching) make sure your lines aren't too dark.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions.

Thanks,

Louise