Watercolor Paper Paper Treatment Question

Watercolor Paper Paper Treatment Question

Just found your site and have not read it all, but have a question. Recently saw a TV program which mentioned the water color paper had been treated and it seemed more like the effects of gesso on oil painting surfaces. Do you know about such treatment?

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Watercolor Paper Paper Treatment Question

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Jan 05, 2010
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Gesso on WC paper
by: Brad D

It is not a waste to gesso WC paper when using oils. It prevents the acids in the oil paint from breaking down the paper chemically.

May 18, 2009
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Treatment question
by: Mary Ann

I would have to know what the paper was treated with. What TV program was this? Was it on PBS? Who was the person giving information on the program?
I know that some artists cover their paper with gesso (what a waste!). Good watercolor paper (100% rag) needs no treatment. If they were using a sub-standard paper, perhaps they treated it with gesso or Absorbent Ground. I would need more information to answer your question thoroughly.