Stretching Artwork ...

Artwork in progress, paper warping already!

 One thing that can spoil a completed painting is to see the paper warped from the use of watercolour.  So much time and effort taken to get the painting right and yet once it's framed the warping casts shadows or detracts from the artwork.   I work very wet and always have a buckled finish to the paper.  Most artists I know stretch their paper before painting ... see below

Wet side down,  tape around edges

Face down spray BACK of artwork evenly

 I had only been shown how to stretch on completion so I'd love to show how ... I should run a disclaimer beforehand though - never do this for the first time on a cherished artwork.  

First place the finished artwork face down on a clean, dry towel.  Then use a spray bottle to wet the BACK  of the paper completely and evenly - same as the pics above but consider it on a finished piece.

 Carefully lift the paper and place wet side down - artwork  face up on a window or glass surface, carefully smoothing it onto the window.     Tape all sides with pre-wet gummed artists tape.  Be very careful not to get water on the artwork side, and when smoothing down tape with a clean dry cloth, be careful the glue doesn't ooze onto artwork.

Wet side on glass, artwork facing, tape all around

I usually tape the completed artwork to a window - not in direct hot sunlight - but well lit.  I leave it on the window or a glass coffee table surface for 24 hours at least, 48 in winter.  Very carefully use a razor to slide under tape and around artwork - you can peel the excess tape off the window afterwards.   Happy stretching!!