It should be noted that it is not advisable to use a simple pencil for this purpose, since it can smear and get dirty on the canvas after applying paints.
How many layers of preparatory coat on canvas
That is a good on a foam roller. That is worth a try.
Over 10 coats for a few reasons. First the gesso I had was very thin so ordered better stuff and the main reason is because I couldnt get a smooth surface so I would lay another coat over it hoping it would be a little smoother on that layer. Me not sanding between layers probably didnt help.
Im going to get a sanding block. This sanding paper just isnt cutting it unless the sanding block is just a block wrapped in sandpaper. If so Im not wasting money on a sanding block:)
March 17, 2013 at 6:48 am #1183975
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Im going to get a sanding block. This sanding paper just isnt cutting it unless the sanding block is just a block wrapped in sandpaper. If so Im not wasting money on a sanding block
You’ll be wasting your money buying one then, that is all a sanding block is ….
Solvent = Leaner Oil = Fatter Drawing is the basis of art. A bad painter cannot draw. But one who draws well can always paint. (Arshile Gorky)
March 17, 2013 at 4:28 pm #1183985
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Wondering how usable these sanding sponges are then or its pretty much the same thing. It seems there reusable and real cheap so might have to get those instead.
March 17, 2013 at 5:28 pm #1183967
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Wow. Interesting approaches, for sure. It is not uncommon for me to apply anywhere from 4 to 10, or 12 further coats of “gesso” (really, acrylic primer) to a store-bought canvas, which already has a couple of coats of acrylic primer. However, I thin my acrylic primer with water to the consistency of cream, so that when applied with a house brush, it is rather self-leveling. In other words, when brushed on, the brush strokes almost immediately flatten, and disappear, leaving no visible, or dimensional brush strokes. I use an acrylic primer that contains, as one of its ingredients, marble dust, or “calcium carbonate”, as it is now called, thus providing it with a bit of “tooth” which gives the oil paint something upon which to adhere. I apply these coats thinly, because of the diluting with water, and I sand with 150-grit sandpaper after having applied about 3 coats. When I end up, there are zero brush strokes, and as smooth a surface as I wish. When applying this primer to a canvas, I apply as many coats as I wish, thus eliminating [or diminishing] as much of the canvas weave as I wish to eliminate. Sanding blocks don’t work well for sanding a surface as flexible as a canvas, although they work well for primed boards. There is nothing wrong or upsetting in terms of archival integrity to apply many coats of acrylic primer, as long as it has been thinned, and sanded between every 2 or 3 applications. By doing so, there is no “build-up” or undue “thickness” of the primer that could cause cracking or flaking as the painting ages. A canvas that begins with a weave can be brought to nearly an eggshell finish by this method, while still maintaining archival integrity.
wfmartin. My Blog “Creative Realism”.
https://williamfmartin.blogspot.com
March 17, 2013 at 6:17 pm #1183978
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Now I’m confused about what your base material is. At one point you say it’s canvas, and another time you say it’s wood. Which is it?
“A bold failure is better than a timid semi-success.” John Howard Sanden
March 18, 2013 at 4:44 pm #1183986
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The extra layers of gesso seem harmless. Are you trying to hide wood grain texture, or just to smooth the gesso? You might consider trying “Gessoboard” which comes with very smooth gessoed surface–it seems to be sprayed on. Or try the small roller. For sanding I use a sanding sponge and it seems to sand more evenly and last much longer than paper. You can rinse the dust out and let it dry to get more use. (I don’t have experience sanding gesso as I use hardboard panels and just to take the polish off the plate-smooth surface before I gesso but I don’t sand after that.)
What is priming?
Priming is the process of creating a barrier between the canvas and the paint. It’s typically done by applying layers of acrylic gesso, clear acrylic medium, or oil primer. Prepping your canvas makes it less absorbent, helps your paint sit better on the surface, and protects your canvas from natural corrosion. The primer gives you an even ground to work with, which means your brush strokes can flow easier and you will end up using less paint!
A primer is especially important when it comes to oil painting because it makes the colors stand out more and prevents dull patches in your finished work.
Is there a difference between priming for acrylic painting and priming for oil?
Yes! Acrylic gesso is technically suitable for priming both oil and acrylic paint. However, we recommend using a solvent-based oil painting primer like Maimeri Oil Primer.
Oil paint doesn’t adhere to gesso well and it will affect the longevity of your painting. In time, the gesso will pull the oil out of your pigments and make the paint look dull.
Check out Artist Kelly Baskin’s tutorial for prepping her canvases for oil painting using Maimeri’s Oil Primer.
How do you apply gesso or oil primer?
You can use the same steps for acrylic gesso or oil primer. Here is the process that we recommend:
- Stir the container very well before using. This is important! So don’t skip it.
- Decide whether you’re going to apply one or a few coats of gesso/primer. One coat will give you a rougher finish and two coats will provide a good overall finish.
- For gesso, if you are applying several coats, dilute the gesso of the first coat with a little bit of water to a thickness of heavy cream. Different brands of gesso have different viscosities, so you’ll have to experiment! You may need to add more or less water depending on the brand of gesso that you use.
- Using a clean, Princeton Gesso Brush or Catalyst Wedge apply the gesso/primer directly to the stretched canvas in even strokes. Work from the top to the bottom of the canvas, in parallel strokes. And don’t forget the edges!
- Let the first layer dry for a few hours before moving onto your second layer.
- In the meantime, wash your brush immediately with soap and water. If you let the gesso dry on the brush, it won’t come out. (This is why we love using a Catalyst Wedge instead for easy clean up.)
- After the first layer is dried, you can sand it lightly with fine sandpaper for a smoother surface.
- If you are applying two coats, apply the second coat in the direction perpendicular to the first coat. This coat can be thicker than the first coat.
- Let the coat dry, and sand again if you want a super smooth surface.
- Finally, clean your brushes.
Optional: Add additional layers for more smoothness.
Kelly Baskin likes using a Catalyst Wedge no. 1 to apply her oil primer. It’s easier to wipe a Catalyst tool clean (it also requires no solvent) than it is to get oil primer out of a paint brush. Using a wedge also allows you to fill in any texture on the canvas, leaving you with a smoother surface.
You can watch Kelly’s tutorial here for applying oil primer with a Catalyst Wedge.
Varnish coating
This is not an obligatory step, but it is worth going through it if you want to save the painting for a long time. After all, a protective varnish not only gives brightness to paints and a glossy shine to the whole picture, but also protects it from mechanical damage.
Please note that only top coat is used for this purpose. It is important not to confuse it with retouching or painting varnish. You can find out how to properly apply a protective coating on a dried painting in our article.
Placing the artwork in a baguette frame
Before proceeding to the process of describing the placing of the painting in a baguette frame, it is worth noting that after that the painting will be more difficult to transport. This is why most artists leave their artworks unframed. However, the baguette serves as a frame that gives a special sophistication and completeness to the picture. With the help of a frame, you can highlight the essence of the artwork and highlight it favorably on the wall.
You can arrange a picture in a baguette frame in a special workshop, where you will be helped to choose the material and size according to your work of art. Of course, some craftsmen independently make frames of the required size and place paintings in them. However, this requires both special tools and skills. An inexperienced person will most likely only spend time and effort trying to build a baguette on their own.
Summary
The process of creating an oil painting involves a multi-step approach and takes more time than working with other materials. However, oil painting allows you to achieve depth and volume that are impossible working with watercolors, acrylics, pastels.
Therefore, it is not surprising that most of the world’s masterpieces are representatives of oil painting, which, moreover, is distinguished by its durability. After all, a work of art covered with a protective varnish can retain its original appearance for centuries.
Of course, the certain complexity and length of the painting process can scare a beginner, but if you follow all the stages of multi-layer oil painting presented in this article, you can enjoy not only the end result, but also the process of working on the painting itself.
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