It is common to hang a painting in a gallery or home without providing a frame for the painting. Sometimes, a painting may be extremely large; this can make framing quite expensive and some collectors may decide to go without. Other collectors may prefer a raw look. Sometimes, and artist may select to use the edges of the canvas as a continuation of the painting surface. When you paint the sides of an unframed canvas to clean up the edges, either during the creation of the painting, you can make a painting more presentable.
Instructions
Paint on Sides While Making the Painting
1. Paint gesso on the entire canvas, all the way around and on the edges. This prepares canvas for paint. Alternatively, the canvas can be stapled to a wall or other flat surface and mounted on a stretcher later.
2. Wait for the gesso to dry. This will take about an hour.
3. Re-coat the canvas twice and let dry between each coat. This is a total of three coats, the archival minimum.
4. Paint the painting as you normally would, using oil or acrylic. Extend your painting either around the edges (for a canvas already mounted on a stretcher), or to the edges of the canvas (for a canvas on the wall). When done, the painting, with the sides painted, is ready for display or mounting.
Paint on Sides After Painting is Completed
5. Wrap the sides of the painting on a stretcher with painter's tape, leaving about three-quarters of the edges farthest from the face of the painting exposed. This means, with the painting face up on a table, the tape will extend upward, leaving the lower part of the painting's edges exposed.
6. Rub the tape down. This will seal it well. The paint will ensure a nice, sharp edge.
7. Paint over the exposed edges. Use artist's white paint from the tube, the same kind of paint used in the execution of the painting. If you painted in acrylic, use acrylic, likewise for oil. An more opaque white paint (for instance, titanium white) is preferred.
8. Repeat as necessary for full, opaque coverage.
9. Remove the tape. The result will be a crisp, clear white side of the canvas, with the drips and stains that naturally occur during the painting process covered.
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