Ken Bromley Art Supplies

User reviews of this item:

FANTASTIC

"FANTASTIC JUST FANTASTIC,

I'll give you a tip, put it on your board dry, you can with Bockingford lb140, then soak it with a spray, saves getting your paper getting dirty before use.

Although, it wont go as tight as a drum, as it will, by wetting the paper first as instructed, it's still very useable.

I've got The Half Imperial Board, and bought it second hand, sorry not from Ken Bromley.

Superb, just brilliant buy one, you wont regret it, I wouldn't be without mine."

A+

"I am delighted with these stretchers. They are are must for anyone creating their own artwork. Which needs that little extra help to create something special! I shall unashamedly say, "It Does Exactly What It Says On The Tin"!!!! A+A+A+A+A+A+A"

Indispensable

"Never undertake a watercolour painting without one of these."

Saved me money

"Buying this product has saved me money. I am now able to paint on 140 lb rough paper, instead of having to pay out for 300 lb paper. As time passes, this item will have paid for it's keep, no end of times.
Thanks Ken Bromley. You are a star."

Great

"This is really a great, fast way to get a perfect backing to your paper. Stretces perfectly and easy. Get a pack of Ken Bromleys Practice Paper. (Another great buy) and you are well on your way. Thank you for your great offers and fast service!"

Easy to use

"Having only started watercolour a few months ago I was tearing my hair out failing to stretch paper successfully. This board is by far and away the easiest and most consistantly successful way of doing it. Now I can get on with the business of painting on flat paper!"

Worth every penny

"I was a bit wary of forking out the cash to get one of these boards, being young and new to the career (i.e. poor!), but I have to say it's been worth every penny. I found them absoloutely idiot proof and my first attempt was a success, and I haven't gone back to gum paper since!!

One tip is to get yourself a rubber camping mallet; the heavy weight and the cushioned blow makes knocking in the pegs a doddle (I seem to take less time doing it than the chap on the video anyway!) and the paper is safe from tearing (the result of a hard hammer).

I now keep three boards, two 1/2 imperials and a 1/4."

I absolutely love it!

"Nothing is as easy and perfect as this system. I absolutely love it! It worked the very first time I used it, was easy and so worth the money. Plus this company ships quicker than any art supplier I have ever used. Thanks Ken Bromley!"

They really are fantastic

"I was a little sceptical about how good these boards would be but they really are fantastic - I could never be bothered to stretch paper the old fashioned way and always got in a mess with the gum tape but the Perfect paper stretched makes life so easy - it's quick ( 1 to 2 minutes- minus paper soaking time )and very very easy to apply and stretch the paper to the boards which are nicely finished and varnished- they are so good i'm about to order two more."

Remarkably easy to use

"I saw these boards when buying from Ken's online site and was delighted to find my hubbie already had one. Have been using it and found it a godsend. The paper stretches beautifully and (after an initial trial) the whole thing is remarkably easy to use. I do use a rubber camping mallet to knock in the sides, so that's a good recommendation. Am just about to buy the full imperial and can't wait to try it out!"

A treasured bit of kit

"I started with watercolour about two years ago and only recently really got "into it". The paper stretcher makes life easier, its easy to use, takes no time at all to set up and the board has a nice feel to it when sketching.

It has now become a treasured bit of kit for me."

I ordered the 1/2 imperial and it really works well.

"I was finding my watercolour/ink/gouache works were slowing down due to the dissolusionment that everytime I stretched the paper in the old way, it always warped no matter how carefully I worked.

I ordered the 1/2 imperial and it really works well. I like to make the paper really wet and run the colours, there was no warping whatsoever even with my first piece where I did not really bang it in properly.

Initially it is tricky to bang the paper in, but not as tricky as using tape etc.

Although the full imperial is quite a bit more, I hope to order it soon to achieve my desire to make bigger expressive works that wont warp."

It takes a little practice to get it perfect

"I am always sceptical of online reviews, usure they are a true reflection, unedited. Well I have to say these were all true.

I am just starting out as a professional artist, and have had so many problems with the old gum-strip metod, so couldn't afford costly materials that wouldn't be effective. So I was concerned that this would be a mistake, but it works and works really well, I am very pleased.

It takes a little practice to get it perfect though - so I suggest a small stack of practice papers.

The 1/2 and full imperial are now on my wish list and I won't be going back to the old method."

Absolutely invaluable

"I teach art classes and also do a lot of demonstrations and workshops for art groups and societies. I find the paper stretchers absolutely invaluable for this as I have to demonstrate on quite a large size of paper - otherwise the audience won't see it very well. If I used a big sheet of 300lb paper for a demo it would work out far too expensive but with a paper stretcher I can use a 90lb paper very successfully. I have two half Imperial paper stretchers and one full Imperial one.

Incidentally I find it a lot easier to use 90lb weight paper than 140lb. It hammers in very much easier. I tend to use a really good quality cotton paper (such as Arches or Saunders-Waterford) but only 90lb in weight. It makes a beautiful surface when stretched."

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