I had this idea that maybe I could learn to paint with watercolour. So my partner bought me a few watercolour paints, brushes and paper.
Whoa! the paper is nice. Quite thick but has a wonderful texture to it. Apparently it’s ideal for beginners, NOT it’s called. I didn’t realise though that paper under a certain weight has to be pre-stretched, otherwise when it is painted on, or given a good colour wash, when it dries it will ‘cockle’. The paper I have is just a little too light and therefore needs pre-stretching, ie get it thoroughly wet and then peg it or staple it out. As it dries it shrinks and the paper stretches, and when then painted on will not ‘cockle’ on drying.
So I’ve had the paints 2 weeks and have only tried one painting. I need to stretch several pieces so that I can experiment. Is there such a thing as a paper stretching frame I wonder?
leaf's 360 has risen from the dust 
hi you need a flat Bord soak the paper in water get some strong adhesive tape and tape the wet paper to the Bord and as it drys it stretches
Cheers Mark, I will try again, I think my first attempt worked a bit, not too much cockling. I think I need to get the paper wetter and to use a good sticky tape. All part of the fun though.