How to stretch watercolor paper – make your own canvas

Watercolor materials · A practical demonstration

How to stretch watercolor paper and make your own canvas

Paint on the paper you love, with a beautifully taut surface and the freedom to finish the edges like a canvas.

When I work on 140 lb (300 gsm) watercolor paper, I stretch it to keep the surface flat while I paint. My favorite way is to wet the sheet and staple it around stretcher bars. In the short video below, I show you how I prepare this watercolor canvas myself.

Rose watercolor on paper stretched over canvas bars — A rose painting on my own stretched watercolor canvas.

Side view of a watercolor canvas showing its painted edges — The painted edges allow the finished work to be displayed without a traditional mat.

Before you begin

What you will need

Stretcher bars in your chosen size
Watercolor paper — I use 140 lb (300 gsm), cold pressed or hot pressed
A pencil and a knife for marking and cutting
A staple gun
Water for wetting the paper

Why this weight?

For this method I prefer 140 lb paper. Heavier paper can create quite thick edges, which may be less convenient if you want to frame the finished painting.

For more on the surfaces I use, see my watercolor paper and painting surfaces guide.

The method

From paper to canvas

Assemble the stretcher bars in the size you want.
Cut your watercolor paper large enough to wrap around the bars.
Wet the sheet, stretch it over the bars and staple it on the back.
Let the paper dry and become taut before you start painting.

Watch the demonstration for the way I handle the paper and the corners. I have made both small and large paintings this way, and I especially enjoy painting the edges.

Framed daylily and butterfly watercolor painted on stretched watercolor paper — My Daylily with Butterfly, painted on 140 lb cold pressed paper stretched over bars, then framed without glass.

After the painting

Finishing and displaying

A painting on stretched paper can be displayed with its painted edges, or framed much like a canvas painting. If it will hang without glass, the surface needs a suitable protective finish.

A note from my studio

Only apply the protective finish once the painting is completely finished. I use an archival spray varnish in several coats, allowing each coat to dry. After varnishing, I can no longer continue painting on the surface. Follow the product instructions for your chosen finish and test it on a sample first.

Keep painting with me

More watercolor inspiration

Explore my free tutorials, or take a complete flower painting Masterclass with step-by-step instruction.

Explore free lessons Discover the Stunning Flowers Masterclass