Canvas Paintings

Whether you are a casual painter, a professional artist or collector of canvas paintings, knowing something about the material will come in handy. For painters, it will help you understand what effects will appear when you use it with certain brushes. For collectors, the knowledge will increase your appreciation for the artwork.

Basic Facts about Canvas

Canvas can refer to various types of weaved material. The type that artists use is made of linen and / or cotton. These materials are laid out on wood frames, onto which the artist can paint. The canvas size varies considerably.

Some artists work on canvases measuring only 4″ x 3″, but others are large, measuring 72″ x 48″. The average sizes sold today are from 10″ x 14″ to 18″ x 24″.

Primed Canvas

Majority of the canvasses sold are pre-primed. Most artists like to prime the material again before using it. The more primed the material is, the easier it will be to apply special effects, colors and textures to paintings. Oil painting will always need a primed canvas, but acrylic paintings do not require it.

Cotton or Linen Canvas

Cotton is more affordable than linen. But if you are going to make heavy painting like impasto, linen canvas is the best option. It will last much longer than cotton, because its fiber is stronger. Canvas can be used for other purposes, like umbrellas, shoes and upholstery. But the canvasses used here are far denser.

Canvas Painting Tips

Use large brushes if you are painting on a large canvas. When working on a large canvas, always keep track of the proportion and the scale. Larger canvases also mean putting in more details.

Miniature paintings are done on canvasses no larger than 5″ x 7″. It is best to use fine tipped brushes for small paintings; it will be
easier to apply the details.

The colors to choose will depend on the subject matter and the effect you want to attain. For those new to acrylic painting, keep the following in mind. Acrylics are easier to apply than oil, but they can also be grainy. This can be handy though if you want a painting with a rough appearance.

Take your time when experimenting with the colors. It may take a while before you achieve the desired effects.

Glazing Canvas

The glazed effect is achieved by putting transparent acrylic paint over layers. The technique works better with acrylics rather than oils because the watery layers do not dirty colors underneath. This technique is ideal for adding depth to paintings and mixing colors.

Warnings

Use additives and thinners for oil painting on oil only. Do not apply them on acrylic paints. You may want to put tarp on the ground; paint will drip and leave stains.

As the facts show, canvas paintings can be done in various ways. You can use various techniques and paint on canvasses of different sizes. By trying out different methods like canvas glazing, you can add some very interesting effects to your paintings.