There is no front/back/correct side or surface. Depending on how the paper is manufactured, each side could appear exactly the same, have a slightly different pattern or surface, or even major differences.
Is there a front and back to watercolor paper?
The Correct Side of Watercolor Paper
Is there a correct side and if so how do you know? Well, after some research I found that when purchasing sheets of watercolor paper the manufacturer will stamp their logo usually onto the corner of the sheet to signify that this is the “front” side you are supposed to paint on.
Does the side of watercolor paper matter?
It is generally accepted that the correct side of the watercolour paper to paint on is the side from which the watermark is legible. For example, if you are using Saunders Waterford paper, the correct side would be the side on which the ‘Saunders Waterford’ Watermark is displayed the right way round.
Is all watercolor paper the same?
Watercolor paper is usually made by one of three processes: handmade, mold-made or machine-made. Handmade is the best and mold-made comes in a close second. Both are very durable, stable and shouldn’t distort under heavy wash. They both feature irregular surface textures which are pleasing to paint on.
Do you wet watercolor paper before taping it down?
Tape your paper down to a board and use masking tape to fix the paper in place.. Make sure there’s no air trapped under the paper. Now wet the paper using clear water and a large soft brush. Go over the paper a couple of times to make sure the whole surface is dampened.
Is there a right and wrong side to watercolor paper?
There is no front/back/correct side or surface.
I’ve been asked this question so often that I’ve lost count. I’ve even read articles and forum posts where seasoned artists attempt to advise others on which side of the watercolor paper is the “front” or which edge is the “top.” It’s time to lay these fallacies to rest.
What happens if you paint on the wrong side of watercolor paper?
The only real difference for most of us will be a slightly different surface finish on the felt side and the wire side of the sheet. Depending on the brand of your paper and the production method used, this variation in texture will be more or less pronounced. I suggest you experiment to find out which side you prefer.
Should watercolor paintings be behind glass?
Watercolors Need to Be Framed
Watercolors are best off when you frame them under glass, and there are compelling reasons to do so. Watercolors are usually done on paper which will deteriorate very fast if left in the open.
Why do we wet both sides of watercolor paper?
Wetting both sides increases the water in the paper and keeps the moisture longer for wet in wet applications. Some painters also do this to adhere lighter weight paper to the backing surface. Heavier paper (200-300 pounds) seldom buckles unless its completely saturated and/or it’s a very humid day.
Should I watercolor the background first?
The benefit to painting the background wash first is that you are less likely to mess up the foreground object. For instance, if you were to carefully paint in the subject first (say, a red rose) and then paint in the background, you would risk getting the background paint on the rose, which might mess it up.
What paper do professional watercolor artists use?
Cotton Paper: Watercolor paper made from cotton is the standard among professional watercolorists. Cotton is less susceptible to warping while also providing a much more consistent texture to the surface. Cotton paper can be mold made (machine made) or handmade.
Why is watercolor paper so expensive?
How Is Watercolor Paper Made And Why Is It so Expensive? The main reasons for the high cost of the best quality watercolor paper is due to the cost of the materials used and the time it takes to produce it. The best quality watercolor paper is made from 100% cotton.
What is the best watercolor paper for beginners?
What Is the Best Watercolor Paper for Beginners? We recommend starting with a cold press watercolor paper. Altenew’s A2 cold press watercolor paper has a smooth surface ideal for painting techniques requiring fine detail. Plus, the smooth surface makes it easier to achieve even washes of color.
Do you line you art before or after watercolor?
Reasons for Inking Before Watercolor
Adding ink first allows you to erase your pencil lines better. This is important because once graphite from a pencil gets wet, it’s permanent. Make sure that the ink is dry before erasing. Microns dry super fast and are completely waterproof.
Should I line before or after watercolor?
If you watercolor first, you need to wait till the watercolor dries on the paper completely before coming back and outlining with ink. Whereas, if I outline first, I can paint over it almost immediately as the pen dries on the paper super quick compared to watercolor.
How long should watercolor dry between layers?
Always give your watercolor painting about 5 to 15 minutes to dry for each layer. If you’re in doubt that the painting hasn’t dried properly, you can always check the surface temperature.
Which is left and right side of paper?
Recto is the “right” or “front” side and verso is the “left” or “back” side when text is written or printed on a leaf of paper (folium) in a bound item such as a codex, book, broadsheet, or pamphlet.
What should you not do in watercolor?
7 Common Watercolour Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Muddy colours. One of the most common issues watercolour painters face when starting out is a mistake known as “making mud”.
- Unwanted back-runs.
- Loss of luminosity.
- Unnatural Objects.
- Wrong sized brush.
- Bleeding.
- Rushing.
Why do you tape down watercolor paper?
Stretching is a simple process that ensures the perfect painting surface for watercolour and gouache and involves soaking the paper, taping it down whilst wet and, as it dries, shrinking it only to the extent that the tape will allow so that it has no movement at all when further layers of water are applied.
Can you stretch watercolor paper twice?
If the paper fails to stretch you can reuse it by cutting it off the board and going through the soaking and stretching process again.
Do you erase the pencil before watercolor?
Take care to erase any extra marks you don’t need BEFORE you start painting. Once the pencil is trapped under a layer of dry watercolour paint it is effectively sealed in and you will not be able to erase it. This is easy to do (and quite fun) with a kneaded eraser.