Canvas Preparation
Follow these steps in canvas preparation or priming the canvas. You will need Modeling Paste and Gesso. You will need to mix: 50% modeling paste50% gesso Why do we need to prime the canvas again rather than using an already primed canvas straight away is this. These canvas’s are way too rough, even though they are primed once or twice already. This additional canvas preparation gives you the smooth texture, (similar to an egg shell finish) that helps throughout your entire process of painting in this technique. It will help with your pencil and ink drawings, all the way through and in the final layer, where very small minute brush strokes are used.
Acrylic products have proven themselves to be long lasting and not detrimental to the oil paint film. They should only be used in this canvas preparation or priming and subsequent imprimatur coat that goes on next. Never put acrylic over oils. With the gesso having the additional body, it is easier to spread and smooth out. It also is easier to remove imperfections. Using straight gesso, (which usually contains a marble dust and becomes very hard, like sanding rock!) makes it very, very difficult to sand and/or smooth out. Your tools needed are as follows:
A single edged razor blade with its corners rounded off with the grinding wheel. If you don't grind, the razor will gouge out deep cuts in the gesso/modeling layer. The rounded razor removes only the high spots! If you can't grind a razor down, just use sand paper. It will take longer, but you will get satisfactory results. About 120 grit should do it. Anything larger (80 grit) leaves gouges, any thing finer, (400 to 800) will take you forever, but judge by how much material is removed. You just want the high spots gone. 
The next tool is a confectionery knife. It too has had it's blade rounded off on the grinding wheel! Below, you can see the texture of a primed store bought canvas. This usually has one to two coats of acrylic gesso already applied. As you can see, the texture is still very bumpy with the weave of the canvas very visible. Your canvas preparation will make this disappear! 
It usually takes 2 to 3 coats. If you use fine linen rather than canvas, you will have less steps. I have never needed more than 2 coats to get a perfectly smooth surface. Sometimes you can find linen priced the same as the canvas! And linen is the better product, so you can charge more for your painting. Applying the gesso mixture is pretty straight forward, you can pour it from the jar, or dabble a few globs with the stirring stick. I prefer the later so I have a little more control of the amount. Spread the mixture like buttering bread. The larger the canvas, the more difficult canvas preparation becomes. Start on a small 9" X 12" canvas for your first attempt at this. 
Here you can see I have worked one side (edge) and have rotatedthe canvas to start the next side. Using a hair dryer, I blow dry the canvas to speed up the time to complete. Once the layer is dry, you are now ready to smooth out this 1st coat. It takes 2 steps. The first is with the razor concentrating on the high spots or ridges created by the knife. (These will appear as fine lines unless you hold the canvas vertical against a light to see the actual risen edge). The second step is to sand the minor imperfections left over. Finishing up with some sandpaper to get the smoothest finish always helps shorten the process. I use about a 120 grit paper.
Now we begin the drawing stage! (if you've decided on a subject and are ready!) Or maybe you need to refresh yourself on composition! Either way, the links will direct you! If in doubt of whether you should put all this work into canvas preparation? Again, if you have access, take a close look at the masters paintings. Do you see any canvas weave or texture (tooth)? Most likely you will only see a smooth surface except for the raised final layer of yellow/white paint! Back to the Lessons Page Expanded version of canvas preparation, stretching canvas the right way. Back to Top of Canvas Preparation A Real Art Lesson downloadable e-book. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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