Painting on canvas has been a tradition in the arts since before the Renaissance. For hundreds of years, artists have used canvas to create great works of art using oil and acrylic paints. If you have the right materials and prepare the canvases correctly, you can paint in the same way that the masters of the art world have done for centuries.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Choose the easel
Step 1. Consider the easel types
To start painting on canvas, the first thing you need is an easel. When you buy one, you need to decide what its main function will be. Also, think about where you will do most of your painting. If you paint in the middle of your travels, you need a small travel easel. If you paint in a small space, you need a compact, medium-sized easel. If you have a fairly large studio, you can invest in a larger, more stable easel.
Step 2. Buy a travel easel
If you are looking for a travel easel, the most important thing is to consider the weight and the transport characteristics. There are many different types. You can buy a lightweight aluminum easel with folding tripod legs. You can also buy one that folds up and fits in a travel suitcase. Try models like Jullian Plein Air PA1 or Daler Rowney St Paul.
Step 3. Use a compact easel
If you have very little space, try a tabletop easel. Use it on desks or tables of any size or height. Instead of the long legs, they have a sturdy base that sits on any flat surface and doesn't take up floor space. They are made of wood or metal, and can be framed or folded. They can hold canvases up to 90 cm (35 inches). Most have a notched bracket on the back that can be adjusted to any angle. Try Reeve's Art & Craft Work Station and Newton's Eden models.
If you have a bit of floor space to place the easel, but your studio is not very large, there are some compact freestanding easels. They provide great stability for small and medium canvases, and can be folded for easy storage. They come in metal and wood presentations. Look for models like Windsor & Newton's Shannon or Tilt Mabefs
Step 4. Try a large easel
Large studio easels are made for long-term use. They are sturdy and have the ability to hold large canvases. You can also buy an easel with a mast large enough that you can work the bottom of a canvas (of any size) at eye level. Try the Best University or Santa Fe II models.
Method 2 of 5: Get the Materials
Step 1. Decide on the type of paint you will use
There are two main types of paint used on canvas: oil paint and acrylic paint. The one you choose will depend on what you want to paint and the way you want to paint it. You must evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each and decide which is the best for your project.
- Acrylic paints dry quickly. This can be helpful if you want to do a lot of layers or apply sharp lines. It can be difficult to mix paint and paint on large surfaces. You can get a sharp edge, but combining colors is difficult. Acrylic paints do not change color over time, but they do appear darker when they dry on canvas. You can use very thin or thick coats as the paint will dry completely. They are also non-toxic and odorless. Acrylic paints can also be diluted with water.
- Oil paints allow for longer working times because they take longer to dry. The extra drying time makes it more difficult to have sharp lines. They blend well and make transitions between colors easy. Oil can degrade the linen or cotton fabric of the canvas. The color of the paint is the same once it dries. It will turn yellowish as the oil rusts. Oil paints are toxic and odor from the use of turpentine used to dilute colors.
- While not that popular, you can also use watercolors on canvas. They look lighter and the lines are not as sharp, but they can give a great atmospheric quality.
Step 2. Choose the brushes
To do any type of painting, you will need brushes. The type of brushes you need will depend on the medium you want to paint with. There are 8 different types of brushes. They come in different sizes, and are made from natural and synthetic fibers.
- If you plan to use acrylic paints, you should buy synthetic brushes. The materials in natural hair brushes degrade over time due to the components of acrylic paint.
- For oil painting, natural fiber brushes are best. The bristles are harder and make more defined marks on the canvas. If you buy synthetic brushes for oil painting, make sure they are made for oil paints. Otherwise, it can decompose and accumulate waste.
- The 4 most common types of brushes are: round, flat, shiny, and cat's tongue. For detailed work, you can use the pointed round brushes, angled flat brushes, and cat's tongue brushes.
Step 3. Gather other supplies
There are some other things you need to paint. You need a palette or paint tray to mix the colors. You also need a palette cover to prevent the paints from drying out. You need a color index that makes it easy for you to mix the different colors. You may also need palette knives to mix colors and paint large areas of the canvas. You can also wear an apron to keep your clothes clean.
Method 3 of 5: Gluing the Canvas
Step 1. Choose the size of the canvas
There are many things to consider when choosing a canvas. You must choose what size of canvas you need and what proportions you need for the project. You must also choose a material. There are all kinds of sizes and shapes that you can buy at arts and crafts stores. Canvases can be as little as a couple of square inches or as large as a full-size wall. The most popular canvas sizes range from 30 x 40 cm (11 x 14 inches) to 120 x 180 cm (48 to 72 inches).
- The two types of canvas are linen and cotton. They both hold up well to oil paint and acrylic paint. Cotton is cheaper, but requires more work before painting over it. Linen is better, but it costs more.
- If you want to take the next step in creating your own canvas, you can buy the canvas and the wooden frame, and stretch your own canvas. However, most people buy pre-stretched canvases.
Step 2. Choose the glue
You can glue the canvas by painting a type of glue on the surface of the canvas. This helps fill in the holes in the canvas fabric. The application of the glue is so that the paints are not absorbed and deformed when you start painting. The type of glue you need will depend on the type of paint you are working with. If you are working with acrylic paints or watercolors, you do not have to glue the canvas. Many painters do this to make the canvas stable for painting. If you are working with oil paint, you should glue the canvas to avoid color fading.
The most traditional way to glue a canvas is to use rabbit fur glue. The most popular glue for oil painting is polyvinyl acetate or PVA glue. You can use either one. If you are using rabbit fur glue, you will need to mix it with water before using it on the canvas
Step 3. Apply the first coat
Pour a generous amount of glue onto the surface of the canvas. Using a large brush, paint the glue onto the canvas until it is evenly distributed. Let it dry for 30 minutes.
- Make sure to use straight, even strokes. You don't want the glue to be uneven.
- Also remember to apply the glue to each side of the canvas. This will prevent degradation over time.
Step 4. Apply a second coat
Pour more glue onto the canvas and paint it with the same brush. Make sure to rub this layer on the canvas to fill in any holes that haven't been filled. As you finish the second coat, grab the brush and move it across the surface in even strokes to smooth it out. Let it dry.
If the glue seems a little thin, you may need a third coat. This depends on the quality of the glue you choose to use
Method 4 of 5: Prime the Canvas
Step 1. Understand the technique
You should prime the canvas to finish preparing it for painting. To do this, you can use a paint-like material called plaster. The plaster creates a surface for the paint to adhere to once it is applied. Once the second coat of glue has dried, you should prime the canvas. The plaster you use will depend on the medium you want to paint with. It comes in white or translucent colors that provide natural lighting for your painting.
Oil, acrylic paint, and watercolors have different types of plasters associated with them. However, today acrylic plaster is used more for acrylic and oil paints. It is also used before painting watercolors on a canvas
Step 2. Begin priming the canvas
Pour the plaster, such as Opus acrylic plaster, onto the canvas. Paint it evenly with a large brush. Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour for it to dry.
Step 3. Apply more coats
Rotate the canvas 90 degrees. Apply another coat of plaster the same way you applied the first one. Let it dry and repeat the process until you have enough layers.
- You need 3 coats of plaster for acrylic paint. You need 4 layers of plaster for the oil painting.
- If you don't want to worry about gluing and priming, you can buy preprinted canvases that don't need gluing or priming.
Step 4. Create a smooth surface
Some painters prefer a smooth surface to paint. If this is your case, add a layer of plaster to the glued canvas. After the plaster dries, rub a piece of sandpaper over the canvas. Apply as many coats of plaster as you need over the first one. Sand each coat between each application.
Step 5. Prepare the canvas for the watercolors
If you want to use watercolors to paint the canvas, you need something extra on the canvas. Apply 2 coats of plaster in the same way you applied for acrylic paint and oil. Also, you should apply an absorbent base like Golden Absorbent Ground.
Using a brush or roller, paint a thin coat of primer across the surface of the canvas. Wait 30 minutes to 1 hour between coats to let them dry, then apply the next one. You should apply 5-6 coats of primer to the surface of the canvas. Let the primer dry for 24 hours before you start painting
Method 5 of 5: Painting the Canvas
Step 1. Paint a background
Some paints require a background color. This will be different depending on the topic. If you need one, you should start with this. Using a large brush, paint the background color onto the canvas. Make sure to do this before you start to paint the other paintings or sketch the image.
Step 2. Work begins
Now that you've primed the canvas, have your brushes, and have chosen your paints, you can start working on the canvas. You should already have an idea of what you want to paint, since you have chosen the colors you need. At this point, you can sketch what you want to paint on the surface of the canvas before you start painting. If you are going to work on an abstract painting where you are going to take your time, you can just start painting on the canvas.
Step 3. Apply the light and dark tones
If you are going to work on a theme, you should start with the light and dark tones. Apply the darkest and lightest colors that you are going to use in the sketch you made. From this point, you can apply the midtones over them, blending them as you paint.