1 - To achieve a flat, tight surface and prevent the paper from buckling during the painting process, which causes the washes to puddle in the valleys.
2 - To break up the sizing on the surface of the paper. This sizing inhibits the initial washes from locking in the paper fibers.
There are several ways to stretch your paper, but I will describe and show the staple method, which I consider the fastest, easiest, and most effective. With this method, I use 140-lb, cold press watercolor paper, soaked and then stapled onto Gatorboard.
First, tear or cut your paper to the size you want. Have a piece of Gatorboard ready, that is a little bigger than your paper. Gatorboard is the best painting support I have found. It is lightweight and waterproof, and is available through most art supply stores and catalog companies. It's similar to the foamboard that framers use, but it is waterproof. Staples attach easily and can be removed easily when the painting is finished, and it can be used over and over again.
Then, drain off most of the water.
While the paper is still wet, staple it to the board around all 4 sides. Start stapling at the middle of an edge, and place staples about 2" apart.
Then, place your paper/board in a horizontal position, to let it dry completely. I try to stretch my paper at the end of the day, so it's dry by the next morning. (You can speed up the drying time with a hair dryer, if you need to.)
Do make sure the stretched paper is completely dry before beginning your drawing or painting. If the paper feels even slightly cold or damp, give it some more time.
Superb!
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