Preparing a Canvas

Recently I used Liquilex Professional Gesso to prepare my canvas for oil painting. After working on the ‘Make Your Way’ painting I decided working on a smoother surface much better. The Belle Arti: Oil primed extra fine grain was expensive so I decided to use this medium and create my own surface.

The brush strokes can flow easily and a well-primed canvas tightens as it dries, giving a taut, durable surface. It also protects the canvas from rotting. I found the paint will sit better on a surface and not sink into the canvas, which is more porous. With oil colour, priming can help avoid dull patches in the finished work and make colours stand out more. It gives you even groundwork. It additionally serves as a protective barrier between the canvas and the paint.

Brushstrokes flow more easily on a well-primed canvas, which tightens as it dries to create a taut, durable surface. Priming also protects the canvas from rotting. I found that paint sits better on a primed surface rather than sinking into the more porous canvas. When using oil colour, priming helps prevent dull patches in the finished work and allows colours to appear more vibrant. Overall, it provides an even ground and acts as a protective barrier between the paint and the canvas. For all these reasons it is well worth making these preparations before you put paint to canvas.

Some canvases are already primed but you can add extra layers if you wish.

Process:

• Dust your canvas with a lint free cloth.

• Lightly sand the surface of your canvas using a fine grade sandpaper.

• Use a flat wide brush to paint on the Liquilex in an even layer, working in horizontal and vertical strokes. Making sure you cover the whole surface.

• After the layer is dry sand down the surface. You can use a slightly damp soft hair mop head brush to smooth out the lines from your previous application if you want a very smooth surface and not a rougher surface.

Repeat these steps until you are happy with the result. I applied 6 layers to my canvas but you will know when you are happy with the surface and may apply more or less applications. I expect this 1.89 ltr pot which I bought from Amazon Ireland for 46.41 Euro to go a long way.