How to Paint Canvases
Painting on a canvas is a form of artistic expression for some and a relaxing hobby for others. A blank canvas is a medium on which you can demonstrate your talent for painting landscapes, still life or any other subject. Abstract-style paintings allow you to convey your inner thoughts and emotions through paint on canvas. As a novice painter, you need to know the basics of creating your masterpiece, including the types of paint and canvases available to you.
Things You'll Need
- Stretched canvas (any size)
- Paintbrushes
- Paints
- Detailing tools
- Gesso/primer
- Varnish
- Tarp
Instructions
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Choose the type of paint you want to use on your canvas. Common paints for canvases include oil and acrylics. Acrylics dry quickly and can be thinned with water to use as a wash or combined with special media for creating texture. Depending on how much water is added, acrylics can resemble an oil or watercolor painting. Oils dry slowly and can be diluted using turpentine or a similar solvent in order to create translucent layers.
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Decide on the image you would like to paint. Purchase the size of canvas to accommodate that image. Canvases range from 4-by-4 inches to 10-by-10 feet. You can purchase canvas boards, canvas pads, canvas rolls and prestretched canvases. Stretch your own canvases to save money; this also allows you to create canvases to the exact size you desire. You need stretcher bars, a staple gun and unprimed canvas for this project (see Resources).
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Find a space to paint your canvases. Consider a large area with enough floor and tabletop space for an easel and your paint supplies. Cover the space with a tarp to protect the floor from spills and drips.
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Apply primer to your canvas using a large paintbrush. Use wide and even brush strokes across your canvas. Before applying, shake the bottle of primer well. Gesso is typically the primer used for acrylic and oil-based paintings. Purchase it from any craft store where you can buy canvases. Gesso makes the painting surface firm and impervious so that the paint adheres more smoothly and doesn't soak through the canvas.
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Sketch your pattern, landscape or figure with a soft pencil onto the canvas. This serves as a guide to painting the picture you want. Once you become a more experienced painter, you can skip this step.
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Paint a base coat across the entire canvas. This is your background color. You can choose black, white or another solid color such as blue for this step. Let the canvas dry completely. For acrylics this may take only a few hours. For oils, the drying process could be several weeks.
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Paint each sketched image on your canvas in large sections to begin with. Allow each section to dry after you have finished, unless you want to give a layered look to your picture. For example, layering wet paint in an image of a sunset can make it appear more realistic by capturing a variety of colors and shadows as you would see during a real sunset.
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Use different tools to create precision and realistic details in your canvas painting. Sharp tools like paint knives and toothpicks can enhance small features in your pictures such as facial features, grass and feathers. Use soft tools like fingers, Q-tips and cloths to blend in harsh lines and form shadows on your picture. Large tools like cotton balls, tissues and sponges can blend in portions of larger paintings.
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Allow your canvas to dry once you have completed your painting. Store your painting high up where it cannot be damaged or come in contact with sunlight. It could take several weeks for the painting to dry, depending on the type of paint you used. Once the canvas is dry, apply a varnish top coat over the entire picture to preserve it. Use a brush-on or spray-on varnish and choose between a matte, satin or glossy finish.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't be afraid to experiment with different paints and tools. As an artist, you want to create a unique appearance to your paintings. Painting books available for beginning artists provide traceable patterns if you don't feel comfortable drawing freehand.
Always wash your paintbrushes immediately after use. Wash acrylic brushes with soap and water and oil brushes with turpentine or a nontoxic substitute. Keep the lids sealed tightly on your paints and primers when not in use to avoid their drying out.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
