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Choosing a surface for oil painting

Discover the ideal surfaces for oil painting, from traditional stretched canvas to versatile alternatives like canvas boards, paper, and MDF. Learn essential tips on priming techniques to ensure your artwork...

What are the best surfaces for acrylic painting?

Explore the best supports for acrylic painting, from canvas to paper, and discover the benefits of cotton versus linen canvas, with insights on acrylic paint's flexibility and reduced cracking risk....

What is the difference between hot press and cold press paper? 

The smoothest surface is hot press, which is best for scientific, detailed and hyper-realistic work, whereas cold press has a more textured surface and is great for effects like granulation and texture.

What is the best watercolour paper for granulation?

Rough-surfaced papers give much stronger granulated effects as the roughness will exaggerate the granulation. The pigment clings on to the texture of a granulation-friendly surface, like our Cotman Watercolour Paper Pads.

What happens if watercolour paper fails to stretch?

If the paper fails to stretch you can reuse it by cutting it off the board and going through the soaking and stretching process again. There are four faults that...

What is the best watercolour paper for stretching on a flat board?

Acid-free paper is the best paper to use if you want your work to last a long time. This is because acidity embrittles the paper and eventually makes it too...

How to stretch watercolour paper

There are two effective ways to stretch your watercolour paper; stretching on a flat board and stretching on a purpose-made frame.

Do I need to stretch watercolour paper?

Stretching your watercolour paper before painting allows you the creative freedom to use as much water as you want, whenever you want. To avoid unsightly cockling – the wrinkling and ridging of...