How To Stretch Watercolor Paper On Gatorboard. Hb works well for me. Use a clean paper towel or sponge to blot excess water from the sheet.
Mounting watercolor paper on board. Use artist's tape, bull dog clips or staples to secure the watercolor paper to the surface of the board. For help with how to stretch watercolour paper read this earlier blog post stretching watercolour paper for a better painting experience.
As the screws on the frame of the board are tightened, tension is placed on the outside edges of the paper.
Tape adheres very well, better than on wood panels, it does not fail to completely stick like sometimes happens on wood boards. My instructor told us to purchase arches 140 cold press paper, to soak it and then stretch it using staples to hold the paper in place. Lightly wet gummed paper tape or butcher tape with a sponge or paintbrush (do not soak or use too much water on the tape as it will wash away the adhesive). Once the tape is in place, take the back end of a brush or some other flat, smooth tool and burnish the edges of the tape to make sure they are thoroughly stuck to the paper.