Thank you so much! Your process matches exactly my questions as I do watercolor illustrations. As my illustrations have gotten bigger, I am finding I should stretch the paper, but wondered if the graphite from tracing my drawing onto the paper would remain after soaking. Very helpful and I am excited to try this!
I just re-watched this video and back then I don't know that I ever thanked you properly for it. Truly made a difference in my painting and my stress level on the start of the process.❤❤
Sharon Bell Yes, for me, I like having lots of information before starting the painting. With watercolor up to 75% of your time can be planning for a detailed painting.
Excellent video. I tried stretching paper in the past with no good results because I was a total beginner and did not understand much (I bought cellulose watercolour paper lol, used kraft tape and it lifted, etc). I have practised some more and this video is very helpful. There's no gator board where I live but I've found sth similar (a type of pvc). I like the idea of paper not warping while I paint! ou are a great teacher, thank you very much Lorraine!
Lots of great info. I use an 18" tablet to display my reference photo and it actually looks just like this lightbox. I think it will also make a nice lightbox on the fly. Thanks!
Beth, that's a great idea. I use my tablet to display my image for painting. I will be doing a blog post about this sometime soon. Thanks for the comments!
Hello Lorraine Watery. I,ve treyed the windo techniek but my watercolour paper kept slipping away from me. I wanted a light box or a light pad ever since i started drawing wen i was 14 mayby 15. My dream came True wen i saw a huion light pad a2 on a second-hand website were i live. I bought it yesterday. I can,t wait to recief the light pad and draw and trace on it. Thank you for this review. I love you,re drawing. Take care 😁👋🏼
Great video. I'm starting whit watercolors and this helped a lot. Nowadays we have the luck of having very cheap light pads available, as cheap as 12$ or 15$ for and A4 or 30$ for and A3 size lightpad on chinese online shops.
Think maybe my comment is late(?) but excellent tutorial. Well explained and clear and helps with the captions too. It's interesting how other people use different methods (eg one woman I watched, taped her paper to board and then covered it twice with water-soaked paintbrush on top, painted side only, and then dried it with hairdryer to avoid any 'pooling'' - same advice re when it's dry and should not be cool to touch - have seen others also drop and soak paper in shallow basin of water, rather than just give it a painted coat of water or run it under tap.... . what are your thoughts on this?). Am going to try both approaches for larger pieces and just tape down for smaller ones as you also suggest. I have some leftover packaging which is actually foam gator board which is fantastic! I didn't know what it was but thought it may come in handy so am glad I kept it! Never thought to use it as backing.Thank you 😊
Hi Megan, sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. I have had a very busy few months. I will also tape smaller pieces of paper down and then wet them with a brush like your example. I didn't think to add this on when I made the video. When I have larger pieces of paper that don't fit under the faucet, I will soak them in a long narrow, wallpaper trough that I keep for that purpose. I still don't soak them for very long, just enough to make the paper flop over. Yes, I love my gator foam board. I have not seen it used as packaging. The board I buy has a hard exterior that is not affected by water. I tried a cheaper version from a local craft store and it warped when I got it wet. Happy Painting!
Thank you for the reference about where to buy the board. Your article popped up on my Google news feed and that is how I found your video. Good tutorial. I was wondering if you've had any luck with watercolor stretched canvas. I bought some on Amazon but they were not at all like watercolor paper. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!
Hi Letizia, I have used stretched watercolor canvas by Fredrix and Masters Touch. I like both. Canvas definitely works different than watercolor paper. Color lifts easily and it looks a little more matte when done. To layer, you have to use a little thicker mix and don't press very hard with your brush. I hope this helps.
Love your paintings! Do you enlarge the reference photo and trace that with the light table for the original drawing, or do you draw it freehand? Thank you!
Lorraine, I'm perplexed. When you staple the paper to the Gatorboard it seems like you would no longer have a smooth surface where you stapled. So wouldn't you need to make sure you stapled in the same area with each painting? Thank you! Gina
Hi Gina, the Gatorboards do not end up with rough surfaces. I use a regular household stapler to attach the paper and it leaves small holes, but the surface is still smooth. I staple over and over on mine and do not try to match up the holes.
Do you use 300 lb paper? If so how do you transfer the image? I tried a light table but it doesn't work... Also, if you do use 300 pounds paper do you stretch it?
I have used 300lb paper with my light table. I like painting on 140lb paper more, so I don't use 300lb very much. It is definitely harder to see my drawing with 300lb paper on the light table. I have to have a very dark line. I always go over my pencil drawing with a black pen so that helps me see the line under 300lb paper. You can also use wax free, graphite transfer paper to transfer a drawing. If you are using the transfer paper, lay the transfer sheet on your watercolor paper and the drawing on top and then trace back over your lines to transfer the image. I do not stretch 300lb paper, but I do tape the corners down to my gator board so that I can tip the paper while painting.
@@lorrainewatry_watercolors Thanks! That was very helpful! I had another question about the masking tape. I used it and it worked very well, no paint got underneath. It did however seem to change the surface quality of the 140 hot press paper I was working on..does it pull the sizing off? I think I am doing something wrong...
You can and I have in the past. If I needed a really big drawing, I would use the blue print machine at the copy store. Now, I usually use my graphics program to enlarge it, print it in pieces on my own printer and then tape the pieces back together.
I stretch almost everything now because I like a smooth surface. But, I will especially stretch the paper if I will be using a lot of wet on wet washes or if it is a quarter sheet (11 x 15) or larger.
Hi Vera, If you are using the gummed tape that has to be wet to apply, you can wet the tape and apply to the sides of your dry paper. Let the tape dry and then you could wet the surface of your paper a couple times, to help the paper shrink some. If you are using masking tape, do the same as above except you obviously don't wet the tape. Make sure the tape is at least 1/2" over the edge, but you may need up to 1" to hold the paper well.
Lorraine,,, Are you able to see VERY FINE details when your tracing.? I have absolutely NO DRAWING skills and always have to trace drawings to be able to do watercolor paintings. It takes me forever because I use Carbon Paper and it doesnt do a good job. Impossible to do fine details. I need something that makes it VERY CLEAR for me to see through and trace...
Hi Kat. Yes, I can see fine detail. But if you are using a photo, I would trace it onto a piece of tracing paper first, darken the lines with black ink pen, then trace it using the light table. I know it is a few more steps, but you start to see all the parts of the drawing and sometimes I see things that need changing. Also, over time, tracing can also assist you in learning how to draw because you are training your hand and brain to see the lines and forms.
Emily, I staple because the masking or craft tape doesn't always hold my larger pieces of paper and when I get the paper wet, it can pull away from the tape.
Thank you so much! Your process matches exactly my questions as I do watercolor illustrations. As my illustrations have gotten bigger, I am finding I should stretch the paper, but wondered if the graphite from tracing my drawing onto the paper would remain after soaking. Very helpful and I am excited to try this!
I am glad this was helpful! The HB lead I use in my mechanical pencil has never faded when stretching the paper.
I just re-watched this video and back then I don't know that I ever thanked you properly for it. Truly made a difference in my painting and my stress level on the start of the process.❤❤
You're very welcome Bobbie, I am glad it was helpful and reduced your stress!
I like the idea of drawing separately from the water color painting to reuse for future paintings. 👍🏼
Yes, it's really helpful to keep my watercolor paper from getting marred from erasing and also to reuse the drawing if I need to or want to.
Thanks, it is the accuracy of drawing on watercolour paper that has impeded my progress.
Sharon Bell Yes, for me, I like having lots of information before starting the painting. With watercolor up to 75% of your time can be planning for a detailed painting.
Excellent video. I tried stretching paper in the past with no good results because I was a total beginner and did not understand much (I bought cellulose watercolour paper lol, used kraft tape and it lifted, etc). I have practised some more and this video is very helpful. There's no gator board where I live but I've found sth similar (a type of pvc). I like the idea of paper not warping while I paint! ou are a great teacher, thank you very much Lorraine!
Glad it was helpful! The right supplies really make a difference with watercolor. Happy painting!
Thanks Lorraine. Your technique is very duplicatable!
Jacqueline, your welcome. Thanks for watching.
Great video filled with fantastic information. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Thanks Samantha. I am glad it was helpful.
Very helpful for a newbie to water colour like me. Thank you.
Boy I wish I saw this video a year ago!
I am glad it was helpful Kelly!
Beautiful
Lots of great info. I use an 18" tablet to display my reference photo and it actually looks just like this lightbox. I think it will also make a nice lightbox on the fly. Thanks!
Beth, that's a great idea. I use my tablet to display my image for painting. I will be doing a blog post about this sometime soon. Thanks for the comments!
Hello Lorraine Watery. I,ve treyed the windo techniek but my watercolour paper kept slipping away from me. I wanted a light box or a light pad ever since i started drawing wen i was 14 mayby 15. My dream came True wen i saw a huion light pad a2 on a second-hand website were i live. I bought it yesterday. I can,t wait to recief the light pad and draw and trace on it. Thank you for this review. I love you,re drawing. Take care 😁👋🏼
How exciting! I am so glad you were able to find a light table. Enjoy!
Thanks i got it at 3 a clock today. I am so exided. Its a beautifull light pad. Thank you i will endjoy it😁👍🏼👋🏼
Great video. I'm starting whit watercolors and this helped a lot. Nowadays we have the luck of having very cheap light pads available, as cheap as 12$ or 15$ for and A4 or 30$ for and A3 size lightpad on chinese online shops.
Thank you. Yes light pads have gone down in price. Have fun painting!
Do your pencil markings fade when you apply water to the paper? I have had trouble with this in the past. Thanks you.
No. I use a mechanical pencil with HB lead. I don't have a problem with the lines fading.
Think maybe my comment is late(?) but excellent tutorial. Well explained and clear and helps with the captions too. It's interesting how other people use different methods (eg one woman I watched, taped her paper to board and then covered it twice with water-soaked paintbrush on top, painted side only, and then dried it with hairdryer to avoid any 'pooling'' - same advice re when it's dry and should not be cool to touch - have seen others also drop and soak paper in shallow basin of water, rather than just give it a painted coat of water or run it under tap.... . what are your thoughts on this?). Am going to try both approaches for larger pieces and just tape down for smaller ones as you also suggest. I have some leftover packaging which is actually foam gator board which is fantastic! I didn't know what it was but thought it may come in handy so am glad I kept it! Never thought to use it as backing.Thank you 😊
Hi Megan, sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. I have had a very busy few months. I will also tape smaller pieces of paper down and then wet them with a brush like your example. I didn't think to add this on when I made the video. When I have larger pieces of paper that don't fit under the faucet, I will soak them in a long narrow, wallpaper trough that I keep for that purpose. I still don't soak them for very long, just enough to make the paper flop over. Yes, I love my gator foam board. I have not seen it used as packaging. The board I buy has a hard exterior that is not affected by water. I tried a cheaper version from a local craft store and it warped when I got it wet. Happy Painting!
Thank you for the reference about where to buy the board. Your article popped up on my Google news feed and that is how I found your video. Good tutorial. I was wondering if you've had any luck with watercolor stretched canvas. I bought some on Amazon but they were not at all like watercolor paper. Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!
Hi Letizia, I have used stretched watercolor canvas by Fredrix and Masters Touch. I like both. Canvas definitely works different than watercolor paper. Color lifts easily and it looks a little more matte when done. To layer, you have to use a little thicker mix and don't press very hard with your brush. I hope this helps.
Love your paintings! Do you enlarge the reference photo and trace that with the light table for the original drawing, or do you draw it freehand? Thank you!
I draw my photo freehand or use a grid to enlarge it. If you haven't used a grid, I would search for "using a grid to enlarge your drawing".
Lorraine, I'm perplexed. When you staple the paper to the Gatorboard it seems like you would no longer have a smooth surface where you stapled. So wouldn't you need to make sure you stapled in the same area with each painting?
Thank you! Gina
Hi Gina, the Gatorboards do not end up with rough surfaces. I use a regular household stapler to attach the paper and it leaves small holes, but the surface is still smooth. I staple over and over on mine and do not try to match up the holes.
@@lorrainewatry_watercolors That's the darndest thing.
Do you use 300 lb paper? If so how do you transfer the image? I tried a light table but it doesn't work... Also, if you do use 300 pounds paper do you stretch it?
I have used 300lb paper with my light table. I like painting on 140lb paper more, so I don't use 300lb very much. It is definitely harder to see my drawing with 300lb paper on the light table. I have to have a very dark line. I always go over my pencil drawing with a black pen so that helps me see the line under 300lb paper. You can also use wax free, graphite transfer paper to transfer a drawing. If you are using the transfer paper, lay the transfer sheet on your watercolor paper and the drawing on top and then trace back over your lines to transfer the image. I do not stretch 300lb paper, but I do tape the corners down to my gator board so that I can tip the paper while painting.
@@lorrainewatry_watercolors Thanks! That was very helpful! I had another question about the masking tape. I used it and it worked very well, no paint got underneath. It did however seem to change the surface quality of the 140 hot press paper I was working on..does it pull the sizing off? I think I am doing something wrong...
Do you use a copy machine to enlarge the drawing from your photo?
You can and I have in the past. If I needed a really big drawing, I would use the blue print machine at the copy store. Now, I usually use my graphics program to enlarge it, print it in pieces on my own printer and then tape the pieces back together.
Thanks for sharing,what kind of staple it is?what is it called?
You are welcome. I use a regular stapler opened out flat.
How do you decide what you wet and stretch and what you do not?
I stretch almost everything now because I like a smooth surface. But, I will especially stretch the paper if I will be using a lot of wet on wet washes or if it is a quarter sheet (11 x 15) or larger.
Hi Lorraine, Thanks so much for all that information. When I stretch my water colorpaper I use tape, so do I do the same method as you? Thank you.
Hi Vera, If you are using the gummed tape that has to be wet to apply, you can wet the tape and apply to the sides of your dry paper. Let the tape dry and then you could wet the surface of your paper a couple times, to help the paper shrink some. If you are using masking tape, do the same as above except you obviously don't wet the tape. Make sure the tape is at least 1/2" over the edge, but you may need up to 1" to hold the paper well.
Lorraine,,, Are you able to see VERY FINE details when your tracing.?
I have absolutely NO DRAWING skills and always have to trace drawings to be able to do watercolor paintings. It takes me forever because I use Carbon Paper and it doesnt do a good job. Impossible to do fine details.
I need something that makes it VERY CLEAR for me to see through and trace...
Hi Kat. Yes, I can see fine detail. But if you are using a photo, I would trace it onto a piece of tracing paper first, darken the lines with black ink pen, then trace it using the light table. I know it is a few more steps, but you start to see all the parts of the drawing and sometimes I see things that need changing. Also, over time, tracing can also assist you in learning how to draw because you are training your hand and brain to see the lines and forms.
Why do you staple? Wouldn’t you rather use masking or craft tape???
Emily, I staple because the masking or craft tape doesn't always hold my larger pieces of paper and when I get the paper wet, it can pull away from the tape.
Is the gator board you use here 1/2” thick? Thanks for awesome videos!
Hi, I have both 1/2" and 3/4" gator board. Some places also call it gator foam board. Both thicknesses work great.
0.5 mm. :]
wrong