On porous primers, the paint can look dead and chalky because it has dried too quickly.Ī non-porous primer like Michael Harding Oil Primer (see Amazon) will also give you more control of your brushstrokes, as the paint will glide over the surface, and stay wetter for longer. A non-porous support will allow the paint to dry naturally through evaporation only. The main advantages of the latter are that the paint will stay wetter and workable for longer and the oil paint will keep more of its lustre. The basic principle is that a porous primed support will enable the paint to dry more quickly as the water content of the paint is drawn into the support itself. Primed canvases can be porous or non-porous. An acrylic gesso primer will make your canvas porous, while an oil primer will make it non-porous. Whatever material you choose to use for your support, you’ll need to prime it. Non-porous primers, like this one, keep the paint workable for longer (Image credit: Michael Harding)
Take care though, most boards and canvases will take the odd knock but a metal support needs a bit more TLC. It’s important that you still treat the surface with a decent oil primer to make sure your paint bonds to the metal. Copper is the best choice, but aluminium is also a good option. It's extremely smooth, naturally non-porous, doesn’t rot and it's also lightweight.
Metal can be a great alternative to wood. Gessobords also have a non-porous and lightly sanded surface that allows for great brush control, making them a top quality alternative to traditional wooden panels and linen canvases. They also come in a variety of thicknesses from standard 1/8” to 3/4”, 1 1/2” and 2”. They’re made from a high-density hardwood so they’re much stronger while remaining lightweight and easy to transport. Gessobords by Ampersand are expensive compared to canvas boards but well worth the investment.
THINGS TO PAINT FOR BEGINNERS HOW TO
If you're handy at DIY, a homemade version could save you money – take a look at our guide to how to make your own canvas boards. Because they’re made using canvas they tend to have a tooth to the surface which is great for showing off brushstrokes. As the name suggests, they’re made by glueing primed canvas to a board, usually a cardboard.
Traditional canvas is not your only option, however, there are several other supports we'd recommend considering for canvas painting for beginners.Ĭanvas boards are great for studies, they’re thin, lightweight and smaller sizes don’t tend to warp. Gessoboards are a strong, lightweight option, but can be expensive (Image credit: Ampersand) This is vital to ensure a taut surface so you can control your brushstrokes. You might want to invest in a good rubber mallet for knocking in your wedges without damaging the stretcher bars! Alternatives to canvas for painting The wedges are designed to be hammered into the holes on internal corners of your canvases to create tension on the canvas surface. These are really important but often thrown in a drawer. One element of canvas painting that artists often miss is the little bag of wooden wedges supplied with each canvas. You can always improve a cheap pre-made cotton canvas by re-priming it with an oil primer. However, if you're just getting started with canvas painting, it might make sense to pick up a cheaper cotton canvas to experiment on first. Given the choice, we'd always plump for fine Belgium linen primed with an oil primer to give a lovely smooth and non-porous surface. Linen offers a superior support to paint on due to its greater strength and finer surface when compared to cotton. When choosing a canvas, remember you get what you pay for.
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