Until the 13th century, most artists painted on the rough surfaces of their patrons' homes or cathedrals. Easel painting, as opposed to wall murals, developed during the Renaissance, forever changing the way artists create their visions for the world. Today, most oil and acrylic painters use canvases and art easels for ease of transport, gaining proper perspective on their subject matter, storage and more. Taking careful steps to ensure successful use of an art easel can dramatically influence an artist's work.
Instructions
1. Evaluate the load of your canvas on your easel: weight, height, ease of access and steadiness. For instance, a flat-based easel offers more stability for a large canvas, but a three-legged easel is more adaptable for a broader assortment of canvas sizes. Many artists own several different types of easels. Make certain it will hold your canvas steady to avoid inadvertent jolts and mishaps.
2. Secure the canvas with the attachments at the top and bottom of the easel. If the canvas is not properly held in place, it can interfere with the stroke motion of the brush and impair the artist's intentions. The small blank spots the attachments will leave can easily be filled in later with paint. Vigorous painters who jab at the canvas should choose the most stable models possible. If not, they run the risk of tearing canvas, knocking the painting off kilter with every stroke or breaking the easel.
3. Slant oil paintings for ease of work and to prevent dust particles from settling in the paint. As oil paints take a long time to dry, ideally the studio/workspace will have good ventilation and be as dust-free as possible. Artists who use acrylic must work fast with this swiftly drying medium and do not need to be concerned with dust. They can paint at any slant they find comfortable and unwavering enough to support their canvas and brush stroke style. Watercolor paintings must be secured completely level to avoid running paint. Some watercolor artists tilt their canvas and use a thicker blend of water and paint while some embrace the effect of the running water look. Many pastel artists use easels also. They slant the canvas forward so the excess powdery-dust falls easily fall away.
4. Create a sketch or outline of the painting on the secured canvas. A basic composition can be done in your desired medium: pencil, acrylic or watercolor. Gaining a visual sense of depth, which brings a painting to life, can only be attained by design and by constantly stepping back to take a good look at your work.
5. Develop your palette by first creating a color wheel of hues you have chosen for the painting. Do you want warm colors, seasonal hues or bold primary colors? Take the time to research color theory before starting a painting by reading articles on color to learn make your painting come to life.
