primeing

[belladonna]

could anyone tell me how do you prime a canvas for acylic paint.thanks

[ursula62]

You buy acrylic primer or gesso.

Paint on in layers, allowing to dry before doing the next one. Sand before reapplying the next layer so that there is a tooth for the paint to grip.

Paint each layer at different angles, to minimise brushmarks, or you can use an old credit card.

[belladonna]

thankyou for that ursula, the problem i have is that i like to paint in detail and the canvas is so rough that it makes it very difficult, will this solve the problem then?

[ursula62]

I always re-prime canvasses, even when they say they are primed. By adding successive layers of gesso you eventually can get rid of the canvas texture.

You don't need to sand much, just a quick rub to give the next layer something to grip.

[belladonna]

Ursula thats really interesting, it really drives me crazy the lumps and bumps. I'll try that, I shall have to drag myself out tomorrow and buy some primer or gesso, what sort of painting do you do?

[ursula62]

mainly landscapes and flowers. I'm a dabbler rather than an artist!

Make sure you cover the edges of the canvas too - although it doesn't need as many coats unless you plan to paint the sides as well.

Good luck!

[belladonna]

ursula thank you for the advice i had to take everything off my computer as it was not behaving, and lost all my fav sites have only just found this one again, i went out and brought the gesso, excellent now all i need to do is paint, have 3 sick children at mo so no hope!