Applying acrylics to watercolor paper

24 Feb 2009

Q: I've been experimenting with acrylic watermedia on hot-pressed watercolor paper. I find watercolor blocks to be effective in the smaller sizes, but paper from blocks that are 18” x 22” or larger buckle a great deal on my board when I apply water. How can I flatten out the paper?

A: Use a strip of making tape to affix each side of the paper to your board. Although the paper will still buckle a little when it is wet, the tape will force the paper to flatten out once the painting dries. If you prefer you can also use staples instead of tape.

--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons


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Comments

John Barnes wrote
on 21 Oct 2009 4:42 PM

The force generated by larger sheets of paper shrinking can be considerable.  You may want to put tape down and staple through the tape and paper with an office stapler.  Also, be sure to lay it out flat to dry, and don't try to hurry things with a hair drier.  Just blot up excess water and leave it alone.

Nat Friedman wrote
on 9 Nov 2009 2:43 PM

If the paper becomes badly buckled, I spray the back of the paper with clear water untill it becomes quite saturated. I then place the painting face down onto clean white paper on a hard flat surface. I cover the back with another sheet of clean white pare, add a few layers of newspaper (to absorb the excess moisture), add a heavy shhet of plywood on top of the pile and add weights. After one day, the painting is completely flat.