Prime a Canvas
Properly priming a canvas will protect it from the degenerative effects of oil paint as well as provide proper support and adherence of oil, acrylic or alkyd paints. Artist's canvas must be sealed and primed. Some primers (or painting ground), such as Gesso, will seal and prime in a single process. After stretching cotton duck or linen canvas on a stretcher bar, prepare it for painting by following these steps.
Steps
- Set up your canvas as best you can to reach all sides of it.
- Stir up your primer so that it's even and ready to go.
- Apply sizing or special glue to tighten canvas and seal the nap of the cloth if necessary.
- Apply the primer after the sizing is dry. Using a stiff brush, stroke parallel to the length of the canvas. Cover completely but spread as evenly and thinly as possible.
- Allow first coat to dry to touch.
- Apply a second coat in the same direction.
- Allow second coat to dry completely.
- Sand lightly and remove dust.
- Apply a final coat. Do not sand the final coat.
- Allow final coat to dry completely before painting.
- Finished.
Tips
- Optionally, you can use a priming knife or an old gift card to prime your canvas, simply scoop out a bit of paint and spread it on your canvas. The card will push the paint into the grooves and the canvas will absorb it. Benefits of this are a smoother surface, less time spent, and possibly fewer coats.
- Sand the canvas lightly between steps. Simply give a decent once over with fine sandpaper and brush off the dust to give it a smoother texture.
- Sanding between stages gives your canvas a smoother texture.
- After the final coat let the whole thing dry for a good 24 hours, and it will be a bit more solid and will take paint better.
- Additional intermediate coats will stiffen your canvas further. 3-4 coats is enough.
- Thin painting grounds allow the canvas to better withstand the shrink and swell cause by humidity fluctuations.
Things You'll Need
- Gesso primer
- A large brush, stiff bristles
- Sandpaper (optional)
- Sizing (optional)
