Preparing Your Drawing Surface

Preparing your drawing surface is one of the first steps to take when working not only with pencil but with any type of media. Of course, you will need a clean surface to work on. This not only includes removing unwanted residues (I often work on the kitchen table, so this includes sticky ones for me), but also any unnecessary clutter. Keep within reach only those drawing or painting equipment you'll be using.

Next, add a few clean sheets of paper under the piece you will be working on. This keeps the texture of your drawing board from coming through onto your finished picture. Pastels especially benefit from this simple type of padding. This is also a good idea if you are taping your work in progress (such as a watercolor painting) to a piece of cardboard or other surface that is not perfectly smooth.

If I'm doing a larger work, such as 16" by 20" acrylic or watercolor painting, I like to tape my paper to a large piece of foam board, even if I'm working on a thicker piece of paper that won't bend (such as 300 lb. watercolor paper). I can purchase a standard size sheet from Wal-Mart for about $2.00, although you can also find it in art supply stores and office stores. The foam board is smooth, padded, and portable, making it easy for me to move my painting as the day's activities demand.

Return from PREPARING YOUR DRAWING SURFACE to WEEKLY TIPS