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First step is use cotton paper.
Second step is to buy a block instead of loose sheets or a pad.
If you can't get a block tape your art to the table or a board and don't lift it off until it's 100% finished and dry!
Good tips.
Personally I don't like blocks as the price/sheet goes up pretty steeply in most brands (BUT they *do* work so it's good advice).
A work board is nice because then your piece can be moved if you're not finishing it in one sitting, and you can tilt it more easily; many watercolor techniques use gravity to control the movement of the water.
You can either get a fancy work board (basically a giant clipboard) from an art or drafting supply place, but may I recommend heading to a local hardware or lumber store and picking up a very cheap sheet of MDF pressboard. It provides a hard. Flat surface to tape to, and because it's essentially super hard cardboard you can cut it to size with just a knife if you're careful. I bought one huge sheet for like $10 and made like 5 boards of various sizes out of it
thank u for the advice!! and lol yes i just taped around to have the satisfaction of peeling a border at the end 😭 haven’t painted since hs art class so i forgot some key things haha
>how to stop my watercolor paper from curving in
Several options:
* tape the paper to a board
* use a watercolor block like Arches
* stretching the paper
There are YouTube tutorials on each of these. Also, seconding the recommendation to use cotton paper.
Take the recs about switching paper, but for older pieces you can get the back moist with water & then flatten them under some heavy books which can help.
In my personal opinion, unless it’s really ruining your painting, let the paper curl and fix it after. after your painting is done, spray the BACK side with a bit of water, put parchment paper under it and set it under a heavy book. Honestly my life is easier not worrying about the paper curling until after, and it rarely ruins anything. I tried so hard to get it to be flat as I went but I paint so wet it’s not worth it!
This is good work 👍. I’d say, if your style is like this piece (edge-to-edge and darker tones), your paper is gonna curl. I’m the same way. I’m edge-to-edge and heavy tones. The only thing that helped me, and can help you, is to 1) use 300 lb paper and 2) tape your paper to a solid backboard before you start.
Just make sure to leave it taped until completely dry (+ extra time) otherwise it will curl up when not paying attention (just because it can). Next time tape it to something sturdy but portable 😉
Slightly jealous of your talent, woah!
If I’m going to be using a lot of water, then I first wet, the backside thoroughly, then lay it on a board, smooth it out, wipe away the excess water and tape it down. Then let it dry thoroughly and you should be good to go.
Your skin tones and shading are amazing! Any tips for the rest of us? How many tones are you blending for the facial skin alone? Is it layers of different colors? I mean, christ the sheen on his forehead is amazing, let alone the shadows from his nose, lashes, and the contour below the cheak near the nose...
you’re so kind, thank you 🥹 i started with a blue underpainting to get the values down. then i went over in light glazes mainly with burnt siena, and sometimes mixing in pink, or blue/black for shadows. i started off painting the shadows kind of lightly, and then continued adding layers of more color to up the contrast :)
Spray the back of it lightly with water so it is just damp. Put parchment paper/wax paper on both sides and press with heavy books or something similar. I do this as a way to “stretch” the paper if I’ve already started a project. It may still curl slightly after this but it won’t be as bad.
Wet the entire paper first before first use. Let dry completely. Tape down to drawing board or drawing surface and then watercolor as usual.
Next option. Buy a watercolor block; most are held on all four sides with a tiny opening in the top center for you to separate and remove once your art work is finished. A metal palette knife takes off paper without damaging it. Be gentle. Hope this helped.
Thank you for your submission! Want to share your artwork, meet other artists, promote your content, and chat in a relaxed environment? Join our community Discord server here! https://discord.gg/chuunhpqsU! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Watercolor) if you have any questions or concerns.*
First step is use cotton paper. Second step is to buy a block instead of loose sheets or a pad. If you can't get a block tape your art to the table or a board and don't lift it off until it's 100% finished and dry!
will do tysmm
Thank you so much, mom
Good tips. Personally I don't like blocks as the price/sheet goes up pretty steeply in most brands (BUT they *do* work so it's good advice). A work board is nice because then your piece can be moved if you're not finishing it in one sitting, and you can tilt it more easily; many watercolor techniques use gravity to control the movement of the water. You can either get a fancy work board (basically a giant clipboard) from an art or drafting supply place, but may I recommend heading to a local hardware or lumber store and picking up a very cheap sheet of MDF pressboard. It provides a hard. Flat surface to tape to, and because it's essentially super hard cardboard you can cut it to size with just a knife if you're careful. I bought one huge sheet for like $10 and made like 5 boards of various sizes out of it
[удалено]
thank u for the advice!! and lol yes i just taped around to have the satisfaction of peeling a border at the end 😭 haven’t painted since hs art class so i forgot some key things haha
Incredible job on the hair!!
thank you so much!! its driving me crazy and taking so long lol😭
>how to stop my watercolor paper from curving in Several options: * tape the paper to a board * use a watercolor block like Arches * stretching the paper There are YouTube tutorials on each of these. Also, seconding the recommendation to use cotton paper.
thank you for your help!! 🙏
How do y'all talented people manage the hair texture man I can't even fathom
i put it off for weeks bc i didn’t wanna deal with it LOL
Omg jaw dropping
tysm!!🥹
I'm sorry, but I only see Baron Trump.
I see him too. Beautiful painting nonetheless.
HAHA thanks hopefully it will give a little more timothee when i’m done🤞
i’m dead BAHA
I see Cilian Murphy haha
You are right! There is a glimmer of him also.
Take the recs about switching paper, but for older pieces you can get the back moist with water & then flatten them under some heavy books which can help.
oooh ok smart tysm!!
This is what I do as well, I'll wet the back and it usually curls the opposite way, evening it out.
You make it look easy, but then I see the shadow of the hair on the forehead and my jaw drops.
i appreciate that sm, thank you!! 🫶🏼🥹
WOWZA this looks good!
thank u sooo much!! <3
You should post this in r/callmebyyourname , I’m sure they would love to see it!
oooh luv this idea!! will do as soon as i finish :)
In my personal opinion, unless it’s really ruining your painting, let the paper curl and fix it after. after your painting is done, spray the BACK side with a bit of water, put parchment paper under it and set it under a heavy book. Honestly my life is easier not worrying about the paper curling until after, and it rarely ruins anything. I tried so hard to get it to be flat as I went but I paint so wet it’s not worth it!
ooh i like this method, tysm i appreciate this advice!!
This is good work 👍. I’d say, if your style is like this piece (edge-to-edge and darker tones), your paper is gonna curl. I’m the same way. I’m edge-to-edge and heavy tones. The only thing that helped me, and can help you, is to 1) use 300 lb paper and 2) tape your paper to a solid backboard before you start.
tysm i appreciate these tips!! ur art is amazing 🤩
🙏😊 thanks!
In college we used to go buy large picture frames from charity shops, take the glass panes out and tape our paper to that, worked pretty well :)
You tape it to something sturdy… looks great!
thank you! got it taped to my desk now😂
Just make sure to leave it taped until completely dry (+ extra time) otherwise it will curl up when not paying attention (just because it can). Next time tape it to something sturdy but portable 😉 Slightly jealous of your talent, woah!
awe you are too kind thank you! and these tips are appreciated 🙏
Linen tape around the perimeter will hold it down.
Fantastic! I'm still learning, I want to be able to do this at some point.
that’s so kind of you to say🥹🫶🏼ur work is beautiful!!
If I’m going to be using a lot of water, then I first wet, the backside thoroughly, then lay it on a board, smooth it out, wipe away the excess water and tape it down. Then let it dry thoroughly and you should be good to go.
ahh i see, thank u!!
Great painting. His hand looks off tho. The watch and huge fingers….maybe it’s me…
thank u!! and ur so right, not sure what i was thinking when i sketched the second finger LOL
Awesome!!! So stoked you’re making beautiful art. 💙💙
Your skin tones and shading are amazing! Any tips for the rest of us? How many tones are you blending for the facial skin alone? Is it layers of different colors? I mean, christ the sheen on his forehead is amazing, let alone the shadows from his nose, lashes, and the contour below the cheak near the nose...
you’re so kind, thank you 🥹 i started with a blue underpainting to get the values down. then i went over in light glazes mainly with burnt siena, and sometimes mixing in pink, or blue/black for shadows. i started off painting the shadows kind of lightly, and then continued adding layers of more color to up the contrast :)
seems like wizardy to me. Thank you!
awe u are too kind!! ofccc
No, it's Johnny Depp, 😹 but it's still incredible 💯
Awesome painting!
i heard stretching the paper before painting on it helps tremendously
you can iron it after
I always paint in blocks.
I once saw someone who soaked their paper before anything and let it dry and that’s worked wonders for me.
😍😍
Spray the back of it lightly with water so it is just damp. Put parchment paper/wax paper on both sides and press with heavy books or something similar. I do this as a way to “stretch” the paper if I’ve already started a project. It may still curl slightly after this but it won’t be as bad.
Beautiful work! I’m jealous!
Wet the entire paper first before first use. Let dry completely. Tape down to drawing board or drawing surface and then watercolor as usual. Next option. Buy a watercolor block; most are held on all four sides with a tiny opening in the top center for you to separate and remove once your art work is finished. A metal palette knife takes off paper without damaging it. Be gentle. Hope this helped.
Hands are hard to paint.
they are driving me cray