10/27/09

24"x30" Watercolor Stretched like Oil. . .

This Watercolor is painted on 140 lb. Cold Press Archers Watercolor Paper stretched in normal way, i.e. flat, stapled around edges to a flat board. I have left at least 1.5" around each side of planned painting size in order to compensate for the 7/8" deep sides after mounting. I Paint first, especially in these larger size paintings for two reasons, as mentioned in yesterdays entry: to prevent buckling later, and to mount only finished paintings that I like.

"Last Blossoms Of Summer"
24" x 30" Varnished Watercolor -- Ready to Hang.



Here are two side photos of the painting showing how edge wraps around all sides. Their are no staples in the Watercolor Paper itself.
The staples showing on very back of stretcher frame are actually in canvas, which has been stretched over stretcher bars first, and now lends strength and stability to the Watercolor Painting itself.

Next I will post step by step mounting process of paper over canvas for precision stretching each time.

2 comments:

Vernita Hoyt said...

Vera, this is interesting. I would have never thought to paint first, then stretch, but makes a lot of sense to do it that way. I am understanding that you stretch it over an existing stretched canvas. If the staples are in the existing pre-stretched canvas and not the watercolor paper, how do you mount the watercolor paper to the stretcher frames, i.e. how is the paper secured without staples? Beautiful painting, by the way.

Vera Dennen said...

Yes, you got it Vernita. Paint, then stretch over exsisting stretched canvas. Will post more as I get photos taken for 'how to'>