Thanks Sluga for your informative instruction. I usually soak cold pressed for 10 min but this is much easier. I will give it a try. Can I do this with hot pressed paper? I was told not to soak the painting side of hot pressed for reasons I don't know. What is your experience and expertise? Thank you.

Never tried gator board. Not available in my part of the world. I purchased Incredible board yesterday. Do u cut your board down to sizes of paper being used? I purchased 16x24” board. I usually paint on 9x12 paper.

great review thanks a lot

Thanks again! I'm ready to tackle my underdrawing again.

I m so glad you did this. I have been struggling with the underdrawing for a watercolor of an old cabin and am having to do it from a 60 year old memory without a photo reference. I couldn't get it right without your lessons on perspective. Thank you!

Once the paper is dry, do I work directly on the painting, then once the artwork is done, do I cut it out or remove the tape ?

Thank you so much! Very informative video. I wish I could press like button 100 times...

Thank you!

Wow! 🎉

Thank you so much. You are a great teacher.

I tried this but when it dried it was very warped all along the edges where the staples are. Did I not soak it enough perhpas?

Just came across your channel and have subscribed. Impressed with your straightforward explanations and wish you every success !! 🎉🎉

What about the staple holes? Do we assume the painting will be framed and the holes won’t show? Thank you, new subscriber here

New artist. Using creative Mark & loew cornell 7020, mandalay hake. Thank yoiu for the comparisions.

Escoda is way more expensive here in the US so I’ve been looking for cheaper but artist quality alternatives. The Ultimo has almost the same hair and water retention as the Raphael Softaqua. Escoda Perlas feel a lot like princeton snaps or himi brushes. Escoda Prado feels a lot like the Mimik Kolinsky or Princeton Aqua elite. The natural alternative to squirrel brushes are goat brushes. They are soft like squirrel and hold about the same water. I generally avoid mixed synthetic/natural brushes because they don’t seem to have much of an improvement to goat.

Gator Board isn't available where I live. Does anyone know of any similar products that might do the trick?

That photoshop demo is very effective, thanks!

For my flat washes I have a Princeton Neptune synthetic squirrel brush (quill) and I love it! It does what it shall do giving me beautiful washes without streaks. I have never tried natural squirrel so I‘m not able to compare properly, but I honestly think for more than double the price I feel no need to try them. If you are looking for „snap“ the Princeton Aqua Elite synthetic Kolinsky might be a good option. Again, I can‘t compare to natural Kolinskys, since the price difference there is even higher.

I still prefer this method over the staples...paper tape is more reliable and it has a cleaner finish to it :)

Hello Sluga, I’ve been a watercolor painter for more than 20 years so I’m not a beginner. I stretch my Arches watercolor paper in the same way you do with staples. But suddenly I’m having a bizarre stretching problem that I haven’t been able to solve. I’m hoping you can come up with some ideas to help. Suddenly, the staples that are used to attach my paper to my gatorboard are pulling out as the paper dries. All of them are clearly being pulled out by the forces caused by the paper drying. My original thought was that my gatorboard was getting old and maybe it had too many holes in it. So, I bought a new board, but the problem persisted. Eventually I tried a different stapler, different staples, different brand paper, shorter and longer soaking times, but nothing has helped. I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve been using this method successfully for many years now. Do you have any ideas what might be causing my staples to pull out? Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Gary Shollenberger

Enjoyed the video and do appreciate the comparison. I prefer the escoda synthetic gold talon vs the natural hair . It was the return to point and the water absorption that I particularly like when painting. Thank you.

Personally I like squirrel hair brushes, they are more expensive but I cannot describe how much more satisfying the feeling is when I get to watch a vegan cry, conversely I do like the synthetic brushes as they get the just stop oil protestors into a hissy fit.

Where did you record this clip?

Wet on wet?

Great lesson, cheers

In Croatia we see the horizon because of the water line

Thanks for the video. I was going to buy a natural squirrel brush. Now I think I'll go synthetic. I just want a good watercolor brush that holds a good point. Does anyone have suggestions on what brand. Thanks!

The difference to the squirrel is indescribable. Please consider a cruelty free option.

Even whales need to come up for a breath of fresh air now and again.

Very helpful, thank you for the demos!

Thank you, this WAS straightforward, easy and I was able to do with confidence. Thank you

Thank you, can you tell me the size from Ultimo which you used? Please. I prefere synth. Da vinci colineo. Greetings from Germany. I just subscribed :-) Dagmar

what resist are you using there in larger swishes...i see the yellows not covering when you paint. I also used Frisket and everything bled underneath, not sure if i was supposed to BURNISH it down when doing a background?

Great

Interested to know which colours you have in that Holbein metal palette

I love Schmincke finest even though it doesn’t granulate. I find Daniel Smith’s French Ultramarine dries really hard in the pan and is difficult to reactivate

Only just found this. Right up my street….what colours have you used here please.

Next time I see a dead squirrel in the road I’ll be making my own brush

This is soooo cool! Love it😊🫰🏻

I prefer natural hair. I use four mops (Aquario Gold 18, Isabey Vintage 3, Jackson’s 6 & 8) and one rigger (Jackson’s Sable 1). The only synthetic brushes I use are Versatil (10 & 12)and Perla (2 & 14).

Thanks for the video Charles. ❤

you are so good

Iris’

Changed my mind about green and so helpful!!! Thank you!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! I hate the little squares!!!!

Thank you!!!!

Loved it!

Thank yo so much!

Art students used to stretch paper like this when I was taking my art A levels in the UK back in 1980. I'd completely forgotten about stretching paper this way. Now I'm reminded of this technique I think I'll return to it. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!