What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Canvas That's Already Been Painted On?
Reusing canvases that have been painted on can be a challenge. Paint does not like to adhere to old paint and the texture of the original paint can show on the new painting. It is possible to paint on a painted canvas if you prep the canvas before you start painting over the old paint. After determining the type of paint that was used on the canvas, you can get the new project underway with acrylic or oil paint. Reusing a canvas is a thrifty way to practice your painting skills. Continuously purchasing new canvases is sometimes not an option for struggling artists.
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Sanding
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If the canvas you would like to reuse has a texture to it from the paint, you will need to sand the canvas before repainting it. A medium grit piece of sandpaper or a sanding block will do the job. Take the sandpaper or block and rub evenly over the canvas. You will want to sand the canvas until it has a uniform surface without any bumps or ridges. Do not grind the paper over the canvas as it could damage the canvas fibers. Go slow and use sweeping, gentle strokes. For hard-to-remove paint, you can use your palette knife to gingerly chip away the paint. After the canvas has been smoothed, wipe the surface with a soft cloth. Keep wiping the canvas until no dust comes off onto the cloth.
Primer
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The canvas must be primed after being sanded. Gesso and lead-based white oil paint are primers used on canvases. Painting primer onto a canvas before you apply paint helps a canvas to have a uniform surface for the paint go on evenly. Primer also prevents the canvas from soaking up too much of the paint. If the used canvas has been painted with acrylic paint, you will need to apply Gesso after sanding the surface. Gesso comes in a variety of colors; however, a couple coats of white Gesso will mask the original painting. If oil paint was previously used on the canvas, you will need to coat it with a lead-based, white, oil paint. The white paint can be cut with a copal oil varnish to help the surface dry faster and harder. A couple of coats of white, lead-based, oil paint should cover most old artwork.
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Acrylic Paint
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Apply acrylic paint over your Gesso-prepped canvas. Acrylic paint will only adhere to a used canvas that was previously painted with acrylic paint; it will not go over an oil-based painting. Let the primer dry for a couple of days to ensure the canvas is ready to use. Try using some impasto gel to thicken up your acrylic paint. This will help the acrylic have more depth on the canvas and help the paint cover the canvas with an increased density.
Oil Paint
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Previously used canvases with oil paintings can be repainted with oil paints. Oil paints do not adhere to acrylic paints as the oil paint will crack after drying. After priming with white lead-based, let the canvas dry overnight. Apply the oil paint as you would for a new canvas. When the new painting has been completed, decide if you will keep the painting as opposed to reusing the canvas again. If you plan to keep it, seal with a spray fixative to prevent cracking.
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References
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