This may seem a silly question but I am going to ask it. I am new to watercolour and bough the gummed tape from SAA to fix my watercoulour paper onto my board, however, when I come to take it off the finished painting, it doesn't come off cleanly. Can anyone advise what I am doing wrong?

Thanks

To tape your paper down and to remove it easily you need to use masking tape. Gummed tape is really used when you are stretching your paper before painting. I hope this helps

Hi, It is possible to obtain low masking tape which isn't quite so heavily sticking. I can't remember where I got it from, It's lasted a long time but it should be possible to get it from the famous auction site.
Other than that you can stick the piece of tape over something fabric like Jogging Slacks or a T-Shirt this will make the piece less sticky when it comes to placeing it around a sheet to paint.
When you take the tape off again pull it slowly away from the picture edge. I hope this helps.
CreativMeech

Hi I was told by a nurse who came to my classes that you should pull tape off like you would a plaster, slowly away from the paper and very close to the paper, not up in the air. Also I have found that the Staples tape, (Masking tape) is very good, it sticks but comes off ok too.

Ordinary strength gummed tape can be used if it is pressed against whatever you are wearing and then pulled away, removing some of its tackiness! It can then be used and removed from watercolour paper without tearing.

Hi I always use the wider 50mm masking tape so that there is a good amount of tape on the board and on the paper. If you don't stretch your paper (I don't) then just leave the paper until it's completely dry before removing the tape and the painting will be as flat as a board.

I used to use gumstrip but it is far too much hassle and tales ages to remove from your board etc.

Good luck

Max Hale
SAA PA and RSC nth Wiltshire

Hi Higgiesue,

I stretch my paper and fasten to the board with gummed paper. To help get it off, I bathe the gummed paper with warm water & cotton wool until it softens, then gently peel back. This works with a little patience.

Bob

You can get low stick masking tape, I use a purple coloured one for my card making. However if you use the DIY variety you can lessen its sticking quality by sticking it briefly to yourself first, that way its still sticky and doesn't damage your paper when you remove it.

Regarding Masking Tape when sticking Watercolour Paper (I use this for both Watercolour and Acrylic for my Demo's and Workshops), if you pull it away slowly making sure that you pull it sideways, away from the painting, this should ensure that you don't pull the surface off the paper.

Good luck and very best wishes,

Steve Williams
PA & RSC Wigan area

Hello,

gummed tape (as opposed to masking tape) is not meant to be removed from the edges of your painting. It is used to stretch the paper to the board. When you come to remove the paper you run a blade around the edge of the paper (mid-way along the tape). The tape stays on the edge of the paper forever, this does not matter because if you have the painting mounted or framed the mount will hide the tape from view. Trying to remove it may result in tearing, smudging and is unnecesary. As for the board, you can just let it build up on the edges of the board until it becomes too thick then strip some off by pulling. There is no need to get it all off the board, just put the next layer on top.

Michele SAA PA