Artist studio
Canvas is a medium- to rough-surface fabric. When stretched, the weave of the fabric is opened by the pulling and tightening process. This adds a textural quality to raw canvas. To create a better surface for painting in oils, it is common practice to prime the canvas to improve the quality of the finish. Many pre-made canvases come with primer already applied. This is a thin coat that may improve the canvas over its raw state, however, it may not improve it enough for the painter. To create a better surface, a layer or two of gesso should be applied. Gesso is a thick, white paste-like product made of gypsum (or plaster of Paris) and a glue.
Instructions
Priming A Canvas For Oil Painting
1. Cover the project table with the drop cloth before placing the canvas on the table. This will not only protect the table, but will allow all sides of the canvas to be easily accessed.
2. Shake the gesso well to mix. In the empty jar, mix the acrylic gloss medium with water at a ratio of 50/50. Add gesso to the medium mixture until a smooth consistency is obtained. Stir or shake well.
3. Paint the canvas using the 2-inch or wider brush. Gesso dries fast, so work quickly. Place the lid on the mixture jar immediately to 'save' it and wash out the brush. If the brush isn't washed immediately, it will harden with the plaster and the glue and become useless.
4. Lightly sand the canvas to remove any streaky spots and irregularities. Dust or clean the surface with a towel or a clean rag. Make sure to remove all dust so it cannot get back onto the canvas.
5. Paint the canvas with the gesso mixture a second time. This coat should go on smoother than the first. This also should provide a noticeably better surface for painting. Allow the gesso to dry completely and again, wash out the gesso brush. Seal the jars well so that the gesso mixtures will keep. If gesso is thinned with water, it cracks on the canvas.
6. Select the undercoat or toner for the painting. Many portrait painters pre-tone canvases so that the undertone of the canvas is not white. With portraits, the undertone may typically be red or green. Your painting may need a different color. Use acrylic paint in the color best suited for the finished work and tone the canvas with the paint. This adds an additional prime and tone to the canvas to prepare it for the actual painting. Be sure to tone the sides as well.
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