The Experiment
For this FIELD NOTES experiment, I used two pieces of Arches watercolor paper cut from a roll, each measuring approximately 5 × 7 inches.
I placed both pieces on a smooth plastic board, then completely wet the front and back of each sheet before painting on them.
One piece was left untaped.
The other was taped down with blue painter’s tape while both the paper and the plastic board were still completely wet. I had never tried taping wet paper to a wet board before, and honestly, I wasn’t sure the tape would stick. To my surprise, it held the paper in place while I painted and as it dried.
When I thought the paintings were dry, I lifted the bottom, untaped painting and discovered there was still water trapped underneath. I placed it back on the board and came back later in the day to let it finish drying completely.
The Results
Both paintings dried much flatter than they started.
The untaped sheet retained only a slight amount of curl after it was completely dry, but it was still completely workable for the loose studies I was creating.
The taped painting dried the flattest. Along the taped edges, some paint leaked underneath and created a slightly rippled, textured effect. I actually think it looks kind of cool, but I definitely would not use this method if I wanted a clean white border around the painting.
Experiment Summary
Paper: Arches watercolor paper cut from a large roll
Size: Approximately 5 × 7 inches
Why I tried it: I wanted a quick way to reduce the curl so I could paint right away instead of waiting for the paper to flatten under books.
Method: Place the paper on a smooth plastic board, completely wet the front and back, then paint and allow it to dry on the board.
Variation: One sheet was taped down with blue painter’s tape while wet. The other was left untaped.
Result: Both sheets dried significantly flatter than they started. The untaped sheet retained only a slight curl and was completely workable for loose studies. The taped sheet dried the flattest, but some paint leaked under the tape and created a rippled, textured edge. I liked the effect, but I would not use this method when I wanted a clean white border.
