How to Tear Printmaking Paper

Isn't it frustrating when you try to tear a piece of beautiful, expensive printmaking paper and you don't get a nice deckled edge? Well here's the easy way to do it.

Lay the paper down on a clean table. Dip a clean watercolor brush into clean water and draw a line across the paper where you want the deckled edge. Then place a sturdy (and clean) straightedge on the water line and hold it down. Now, pull up the paper towards you in one clean, strong motion. Voila! You have a beautiful deckled edge to your paper.