Plumeria Don Cropped for a Better Composition

I decided to crop the painting after all.  I generally preserve a white border with drafting tape before I start painting for a cleaner presentation and so that the framer does not have to place the mat too far over the painting. I drew a line to mark the new lower edge of my painting and applied drafting tape inside the new border over the painting. Using a piece of wet squeezed out Mr. Clean Original sponge, I gently scrubbed out a new border. Then I removed the tape and let the scrubbed out portion dry. When dry, I applied a new piece of drafting tape on the white border to mark the new edge of the painting. So in the photo, the tape at the new bottom edge of the painting covers a white border and I will cut off the remainder. 

Note: I use Scotch drafting Tape #230 which does not peel the paper when I remove it at the end. I have found that those labeled 'artist tape' come off  if I use too much liquid near the edges and masking tape tends to peel the paper because it might be too sticky. I do not find this Scotch brand tape in our island hardware stores or Walmart, etc. so I order it from DickBlick.com. Your larger art stores on the mainland probably carry it.

Note: The scrubbing with a wet sponge only works with thick watercolor paper. That is the reason I use 300# Arches paper.  I like it because I don't have to stretch it first and it can handle the scrubbing. You might get a hole in your paper if it is too thin.