Getting your money’s worth: 6 ways to re-use watercolor paper

Are you tired of wasting watercolor paper every time you make a mistake or finish a painting? Don’t throw it away just yet! With these 6 creative and practical ideas, you can re-use your watercolor paper to its fullest potential. Say goodbye to wasted resources and hello to getting your money’s worth.

If you’re anything like me, you have a hard time throwing away pretty pieces of watercolor paper – but can’t keep them if they’re not quite “perfect.” If you can relate, then this post is for you! I’m sharing six different ways to re-use your watercolor paper so that you can feel good about using up every last scrap. Let’s dive in!

Introduction to Watercolor Paper

Watercolor paper is a paper specifically designed and manufactured for use with water-based media. As its name suggests, watercolor paper is ideal for painting with watercolors, but it can also be used for other wet media such as inks, gouache, and acrylics.

Watercolor paper is made from a variety of different materials including cotton, linen, wood pulp, and synthetic fibers. The type of material used will affect the absorbency and texture of the paper. Watercolor papers come in a variety of different weights or thicknesses, which is measured in pounds (lbs). Heavier papers are generally more durable and can hold up to multiple washes of paint without warping or buckling.

In addition to its weight, watercolor paper also comes in a variety of different textures including hot press (smooth), cold press (slightly textured), and rough (very textured). The type of texture you choose will depend on your personal preference and the type of painting you plan to do.

When purchasing watercolor paper, be sure to look for a product that is acid-free and archival quality. This will help ensure that your paintings will last for many years to come.

What can you do with it?

Watercolor paper is durable and thick. You don’t have to use it just for watercolor. It can be used for a variety of art projects. Here are some ideas of what you can do with watercolor paper:

1. The obvious one; Paint on it with watercolors – Watercolor paper is specially made to withstand the heavy pigments and wetness of watercolors. The thick paper will also prevent your colors from bleeding through to the other side.
2. Draw on it with pencils, charcoal, or pastels – The smooth surface of some watercolor paper (like hotpress) is ideal for drawing and sketching. The thicker paper will also hold up better to erasing and reworking than thinner papers.
3. Make collages – Watercolor paper’s sturdy construction makes it ideal for gluing down smaller pieces of paper or fabric to create a textured collage.

1. Create Collages

To create a watercolor collage, start by tearing or cutting your watercolor paper into small pieces. Next, use a glue stick to attach the pieces of paper to a larger piece of cardstock or construction paper. Once the glue is dry, you can begin painting your collage with watercolors. Experiment with different techniques and colors to create a unique work of art.

2. Use as Stencils

Assuming you don’t want to just throw away your watercolor paper after a project is complete, or if your piece got messed up, or didn’t turn out how you wanted it to, there are a couple different ways you can re-use it! One way is to use it as stencils for future paintings.

You can either draw or paint directly on the watercolor paper, then cut out the shape you want to use as a stencil. Or, if you’re feeling extra creative, you could fold the paper in half and cut out a symmetrical design. Once you have your stencil, simply place it on top of a new piece of watercolor paper and trace around it. Then fill in the tracing with whichever colors you’d like!

This is a great way to add interesting shapes and patterns to your paintings, and it’s a fun way to recycle old paper.

3. Print on the Paper

If you’re not ready to give up on your watercolor paper just yet, there are ways to make it last a bit longer. One way is to print on the paper, especially if it’s a piece that has gotten a little worn, or has some accidental paint splatters or drops on it. Printing a design over that, can actually hide it well depending on what kind of design you choose to do.

You can print on watercolor paper using any kind of printer, but inkjet printers work best. Once you have your printed design, you can also add other mediums such as gouache or acrylic paint to create more interesting textures and effects.

4. Paint on Both Sides of the Paper

1. Begin by finding an old, unfinished, abandoned or failed painting.
2. Flip it over and tape it to a board or table top
3. Draw or transfer your outline. And begin painting.
   • You can continue to paint on either side of the paper until the paint no longer adheres well or the paper becomes too fragile to work with.

6. Turn one sheet into more

If you’re using professional watercolor paper, did you know that you can actually get more than one use out of a single sheet? With a little bit of creativity, you can turn that one sheet into multiple paintings or sketches, and get your money’s worth out of it!

Here are some ways to get more use of of less paper:

1. Paint on both sides of the paper. This will obviously halve the amount of paper you have to buy, but it will also give your paintings interesting texture and variation.

2. Cut the paper into smaller pieces and use them as mats for smaller paintings or sketches. You can even frame them individually!

3. Use the paper as collage material. This is a great way to add interest and texture to your paintings.

4. Save your scraps and use them for testing colors or painting techniques. You don’t have to waste a whole sheet just to experiment!

5. If you accidentally ruin a painting, don’t toss the whole sheet – see if you can salvage part of it and turn it into something new.

With a little bit of creativity, you can get multiple uses out of a single sheet of watercolor paper!

Conclusion

Watercolor paper is an investment, so it’s important to get as much use out of it as possible. With these five ways to re-use your watercolor paper, you can make the most of your purchase and enjoy all the wonderful art you create! Whether you’re looking for a way to practice different techniques or just want to use up every last scrap of paper, we hope that these tips have given you some ideas on how to do just that. Give them a try and see what amazing artworks come from it!