Stretching watercolour paper

Can anyone tell me if, to get a good painting surface, you have to stretch all watercolour papers before you paint on them or can you buy pre-stretched? I started with water colour and gave up early on, moving to oils instead, but I fancy having a go at watercolours again. Look forward to any advice.
Ross.

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Permalink Reply by Audrey on October 30, 2009 at 1:45pm: Lots of info already posted about this subject. You might find the following link useful. Good luck!

http://community.how-to-draw-and-paint.com/forum/topics/watercolor-...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Colin on November 1, 2009 at 9:02pm

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Hi Ross,
I have used (once) the pre-stretched paper and it was useless and i thought it a wast of the extra money spent. I always soak my W/C paper in the bath for 5 mins or so then take the excess water of by folding a towel round it ( not as to dry it ) then tape it to my painting board with brown gummed paper tape and let it dry . This works every time for me .

Hope this helps a little.

Col..

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Permalink Reply by Chief on November 2, 2009 at 2:57am: See my watercolor video on this site "Setting Up for Success".........I never stretch paper.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela Shogren on November 3, 2009 at 11:21pm: I almost never stretch paper - I like to be able to move it around if I want to. I don't buy pre-stretched, 300lb or anything special - I just paint on it as is, and it usually dries flat when all is said and done.

On the rare occasions where I do feel a need to stretch I wrap my damp paper around a gessoed canvas and staple it to the back, then cut free when finished.

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Permalink Reply by jo jo on November 6, 2009 at 12:19am: I like mine stretched, but also use the block, what I have heard is that every thing under 300lb should be stretched (unless blocked)

I like colin's painting so I think for now on I will try following his instructions; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Angela Shogren on November 6, 2009 at 1:16am: It's helpful to stretch if any buckling whatsoever will interfere with your work or keep you from getting an effect you want - I am only pointing out that it's not a 'have to'. It never occurred to me not to - that was just how you started a watercolor, right? - for quite awhile. Then I started to realize that there were plenty of professional artists who didn't stretch, so I just gave it a try and realized it wasn't at all necessary for my style, and that being able to move and tilt different sections of my paper, without tilting the entire board - was so helpful!

So, for me, stretching is just a totally unnecessary step and actually makes it harder for me to do certain things the way that I want to.

And I work on 140lb paper.

Don't listen to 'have tos' without finding out exactly why.

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