How to Paint on an Art Canvas

Artists whose experience consists solely of drawing or painting on paper may be confused the first time they face a blank canvas. Working with brushes on canvas may seem daunting at first, but with a little trial and error you can learn to create professional-looking paintings. Art canvas can be purchased raw and unstretched, or pre-stretched on wooden frames. Pre-stretched canvases, which can be purchased at art supply and craft stores, are convenient and for beginners. Using a small size keeps the cost down while you're

Things You'll Need:

• Gesso
• Paper or plastic cup
• Water
• Butter knife or plastic stirrer
• Brush for gesso
• Pre-stretched canvas
• Oil, acrylic or alkyd paints
• Paintbrushes
• Palette
• Palette knife
• Mild soap
• Mineral spirits or turpentine

Instructions

1. Squeeze about an inch of gesso into the bottom of your cup. Read the label on the gesso container to find out how much water you should add.
2. Stir the gesso with a butter knife or plastic stirrer. Mix well to an even consistency.
3. Apply a thin coat of gesso to the entire canvas. Allow to dry for at least one hour.
4. Apply a second coat of gesso and allow to dry overnight.
5. Choose the kind of paint you want to use. Oil paint is thick, deeply pigmented and takes the longest to dry. Acrylics are water-based and dry much more quickly. Oil and acrylic paints cannot be mixed. Alkyd paints are similar to acrylics in texture, but are oil-based and can therefore be mixed with oil paints to create custom colors.
6. Choose your brushes. The same brushes can be used for acrylics and oils. There are two basic kinds: stiff, off-white bristle brushes and soft, brown sable brushes. Brush shapes include brights, in which the bristles are arranged in a rectangle; flats, which are brights with longer bristles; and rounds, with bristles rolled together in a barrel shape and pointed at the tip. Generally, rounds are good for line and detail, while flats and brights are good for sharp edges and filling large spaces.
7. Mix custom colors on a palette with a palette knife. Squeeze a drop from each tube to start. You may wish to use a very small canvas at first, just to test paint colors and get a feel for working with different kinds of paint.
8. Apply paint to canvas using brushes or a palette knife. Start with a thin coat. Allow oils to dry overnight between coats. Acrylics dry within an hour or two. Applying more paint over paint that is not yet dry will result in a "muddy" color, especially with oils.
9. After using acrylics, wipe excess paint off brushes and wash them immediately with mild soap and water. After using oil or alkyd paints, wipe off excess and use mineral spirits or turpentine to remove most of the paint, then wash with mild soap and water.
   

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