Preparation and technique help you prepare your canvas for painting.
A canvas is the medium upon which most paintings are created. Whether you use oil or acrylic paints, you will choose a canvas for your work. Canvases come in many sizes and styles, including rolled, canvas mats, stretched canvas and canvas boards. Regardless of the type of canvas you begin with, understanding prepare it and use it can make the painting process more successful.
Canvas Preparation
While you can paint on a canvas straight from the store, some artists use sandpaper and lightly rub the canvas to make the surface more even. Before painting, add a primer to the canvas to separate the canvas from the acidic qualities of your paint. The most common product for this is gesso, which is made from rabbit hide glue, titanium dioxide, marble dust and water. The mixture goes on white and dries clear. Make the application with a wide paintbrush.
Underpainting
Begin your painting by underpainting. Pay particular attention to the areas of your painting that will be darkest when you finish painting. Paint these areas without worrying about adding detail. The purpose of the underpainting is to give yourself a foundation upon which to layer the rest of your painting, which can give it a deeper, more vibrant appearance.
Canvas Painting Process
When working with a painting on canvas, break the painting up into several sessions to allow the paint to dry. If you are using a wet on wet technique (placing wet paint on wet paint), do this technique in one session and return to the painting after giving the painting extra time to dry. This allows the paint to set and will let you see areas that need touching up.
Protecting Your Painting
When you've finished painting, leave it alone for a day or two to ensure thorough drying, then apply a clear protective spray (available in art stores) to help protect your painting. Without this protective coating, a painting on canvas may fade in sunlight or pick up excess dirt.
