Acrylic on Canvas, First Attempt ... Please Advise?

Question

I bought some small, cheapie canvases (back-stapled, though!) on clearance after Christmas. They are childrens' art kits, and the canvases are pre-printed with little-kid designs. I'd like to know what I should use to paint over the designs so that I have a fresh surface to work on.

I've never used acrylic on canvas before, so I thought these canvases ($1.25 each) would be an inexpensive way to experiment before I tackle a "good" canvas. Even if these all end up in the trash, that's OK, I just want play around with them and learn.

Would you recommend covering them with white acrylic (I have plenty) or is there something else that would work better? I also have white latex primer and white latex paint on hand, as well as lots of acrylic craft paint. Not sure if those would work, though.

Thanks for your help. I'm just getting started and know I have a lot to learn!

Answer 1

Acrylic as the undercoat is perfect in fact you can tint the white acrylic with a color of choice. Remember if you don't won't the rough canvas feel you can sand the canvas. Gesso is usually used on canvas' to prep them for acrylic or oil. This can be tinted as well with acrylic. I accidentally tinted mine with oil, but it worked. Sometimes I don't use anything, I just start painting with oils using a palette knife. This is a fun way to experience with paint and you can use acrylic too. Please don't throw your art work away because this is your beautiful creation even if it looks silly to you. Remember not to be sensitive to other people's opinions either. Everyone has a different perspective. Some people will critique your work to death because they are left brain perfectionists. Right brain people will absolutely love your work because they don't look for the picture perfect and detailed work. Think of yourself as a child. Remember when you would fingerpaint. So much fun being uninhibited by no worries. Our left brain tells us when something just doesn't look right and it will also criticize your right brain creativity. Just enjoy the process and in it you will create a beautiful piece of art.



You can finish your piece with a top coat for acrylic to give it a shine. A glossy, satin or matte spray. Use glaze to move your paint around and give it a different effect. You can buy this at Lowes in a nice big jug. It is a clear glaze.



My medium is oil and watercolor, but oil is my favorite because it moves so well and the colors are so beautiful.



Just have fun and you may find that you might paint over a piece you aren't so happy about and that is ok too. There is a website that I frequent about.com and there are many wonderful words of advice on everything.



Look at other people's art, but please don't compare yours with theirs. Look at the colors which move you and the pictures that move you. This will give you a direction you would like to move in. Don't get discouraged when you have a block. Write a journal to keep your right brain creating. Take notice of nature and abstractions. The biggest challenge is to not criticize your work and just realize this is a part of you through art.



"Painting is like having a diary" Pablo Picasso.

Answer 2

White acrylic paint should be fine. Just apply it evenly on top of the canvas. Depending on your quality of paints, one or two coats should do the trick.



Also, if you want to, take some normal water based glue (sometimes called School glue or Craft Glue) and water it down. It should be 50/50 in consistency. And apply that with a brush on the front and back of the canvas. It will stretch it and act as a Gesso substitute.



I had a canvas that had lots of bumps and dents in it last week and I did this and it became straight and flat. Not a single shred evidence that the bumps and dents even existed.



Do this and then add your white paint onto. It will act as a primer and your canvas will be as good as new!



Good luck painting on canvas! It's a great surface to paint on.

Answer 3

If you want a smooth surface, covering the canvas with white will give you an easier surface to paint. If you want to show the "grain" of the canvas, starting the painting without a base layer should be fine.



Charlene C: I have gessoed my canvases a few times, however, most come completely ready to paint: no gesso needed.

Answer 4

When I majored in art (a million years ago), I was taught to cover the canvas in gesso.

Answer 5

get some gesso - it comes in white or other colors....before you start painting after the gesso you may want to underpaint with another color - gray, light brown...what you don't want is white showing through...(usually) ...check out jerry yarnell dvd's available via ebay or on his website he has some great dvd's on getting started with acrylics

Answer 6

i reuse canvases by painting them over with white acrylic. works for me.