Canvases

ironchefmitty

What types or brands of canvas do you all recommend. Of course they must be pre-stretched and double primed.

Sunnylady

ironchefmitty While i was in USA I was using Hobby Lobby cheap 16*20inch canvas (bulk: 5 for 10 USD) - double primed cotton. Now I am using Pinax brand- cotton, triple primed.

Dellajoy

I am using the Hobby Lobby 16x20 canvases that come 5 for $12.99. That is the current price here in Scottsbluff NE as of 4/07/21. They are just fine for beginners.

ironchefmitty

I’ve definitely been using the Hobby Lobby 16x20s a lot so far. I’ve been receiving some money for some paintings and was thinking of splurging on some canvas. Was just wondering what people thought would be ‘premium’ canvases or if it doesn’t really matter.

Sunnylady

ironchefmitty , Dellajoy - The trick will be to buy gessoed Belgian linen canvas in rolls (Amazon will help with brands and grain of roughness), buy few stretchers and special pliers to stretch canvas. (Videos how to do that are available on youtube). After painting is dry it can be removed from stretcher, gently rolled and saved for storage or shipping. Also if you use Belgian linen you can use tape or staples to attach it to the plywood and paint on it. It will resemble panel somewhat.

PS Belgian linen refers to a place of manufacture the linen textile. Final gessoing can be done in Italy, Belgium, USA, etc. This is the top quality canvas.

Dellajoy

I've done 30+ paintings so far so I also feel ready to move on to better canvases. I'll be interested in the replies to your question. Other than being double primed, should we just look for a tight stretch? What is the best fabric (affordable). I'm ready to move on from the budget canvases but not ready to splurge big time...

Sunnylady

Hey guys, I wrote the article some time ago, check it out. Maybe it will be helpful.
https://www.twoinchbrush.com/articles/how-to-select-canvas-in-the-shop

and next one:
https://www.twoinchbrush.com/articles/time-to-talk-about-the-canvas

Sunnylady

And one more: https://www.twoinchbrush.com/articles/how-to-prepare-canvas-for-painting

ForestVueGallery

I’ve been very pleased with the Blick canvases in Studio or Premier https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-studio-traditional-profile-cotton-canvas-16-x-20-34-profile/
The edges are 90 degree (not rounded) which is great for painting the sides in black to hang without a frame.
I recently purchased some round canvases from Hobby Lobby that are quite nice also,
and I find giving any and all of them a coat or two of gesso works well for me.

tel

I only use boards actually, the main reason is storage...they take up very little space which is an issue for me personally, also if i score a 10 than i can frame it . I can buy Winsor and newton boards at the range for the same price as most budget canvases found on the web.

Voy Kay

tel That's not a bad deal, W&N boards at the price of a budget canvas! Most boards (budget ones) I need to prepare with white gesso twice to avoid the board eating too much oils and still it can be a risk.
It's also less easy painting boards on an easel but I admit, you gain quite some storage space with them!

DaveJ

I buy the cheaper canvasses from the Discount Shop (or even the cheap packs of 5 oriental ones) and apply 2 coats of a very light grey gesso (mixed to about a 9 or 9.5 value on the Colour Wheel) to both improve the painting surface and give me an off-white canvas so that I can better see the liquid white I am applying. Bob always used a light grey canvas for that reason. Seems to be working reasonably well for me so no plans to change.

Voy Kay

DaveJ That's a great tip Dave, to use light grey gesso in function of Liquid white's visibility! I will give that a try myself, although I rarely get a mishap with applying liquid white, but nobody is error free.