Canvas problem

indicationofart

I had a strange thing happen with a canvas today. Same brand I usually buy, but black. States stretched and double primed. I added 2 coats of black gesso. By the time I got the sky finished the bottom of the painting was already dry. Is there something I can do to prevent this in the future?

Sunnylady

indicationofart Most probably that black gesso you added has higher absorbency than the white canvases. You can try to wipe it with very thin layer of linseed oil before applying the transparent colors. As far as I recall BR Magic clear has some solvent in it, solvent usually sinks into canvas very fast if gesso is quite adsorbent. Thus to try is to use more fatty medium like pure linseed oil.

Sunnylady

indicationofart Also try to go only with those layers that made by manufacturer without adding any additional layers of gesso on top. They might have less adsorbent black gesso than yours. You can even test by just covering with Bob Magic clear and see how long it will take to dry out. Do not paint anything on top till your experiment is over and canvas dries for couple of weeks. After couple of weeks you can reuse it for painting.

Xsintrik

Were you painting an original or a BR? Usually when Bob paints on a black canvas he covers the canvas in gesso or acrylic and lets it dry, then covers with a thin layer of a transparent color like alizarin crimson or Prussian blue.
The first time I tried a black canvas, I covered it in liquid black... what a mess. Found out what it meant to mix mud that day.

indicationofart

It was a BR painting (Arctic Beauty). I used 2 coats of black gesso, then transparent colors. I don't think I'll be buying black canvas any more.

Xsintrik

Did you let the gesso dry before covering it with the alizarin crimson and prussian blue?

indicationofart

Xsintrik I did.

indicationofart

Sunnylady Thank you Sunny. I did one with no added gesso and it did the same thing. I have one canvas with liquid clear on it now, 3 days and still very tacky. I guess that is the solution.

Sunnylady

indicationofart It is supposed to be tacky linseed oil dries to touch in around 5-6 days if it is a thin layer. That is why I mentioned 2 weeks. But if that is still tacky let it dry more.

Sunnylady

indicationofart Another idea that just came, you may apply liquid clear in halves, for example you do upper part and you apply it there, when you move further down you go and apply it for the second half of the painting. You always can go with pure linseed oil if liquid clear continues misbehaving and see how that will work out. You can try to get liquin original as your medium and try to paint with it. However it might be a bit stressful in the beginning while you figuring out what works for you, but it dries quite fast and reduces overall drying time of the painting. Please do share how your troubleshooting is ongoing, I am sure you will figure it out.

indicationofart

Sunnylady Today's update. The canvas with liquid clear on it is still drying. I tried linseed oil on another, no added gesso, just linseed. Canvas absorbed it twice. After that I applied liquid clear. Canvas absorbed/dried before the painting was finished. It seemed to absorb every layer of paint I put on except the last. I worked slowly and in layers due to the quick drying and there are at least 7 layers of paint in some areas. I'm really scratching my head over this one. I don't think I will buy black canvases again.

Sunnylady

indicationofart I am scratching my head too… seems that gesso from manufacture is an issue. I bought only 2 black canvases in my life and weird enough they were opposite and did not absorb so paint just slip over them.

probably white canvas you are happy with is your way to go and convert into black canvas. Plus it must be cheaper than buying black canvas.

Sunnylady

indicationofart thanks for sharing the update!

Sunnylady

indicationofart can you check back side of the painting you did? Do you see oily spots on back? I think it may be the case as absorbing was so bad and only couple of the solution here. One is to DYI black canvas or two: switch to another brand.

indicationofart

Sunnylady I'm done with buying black canvas. I'll just acrylic paint it myself in the future to be sure it's going to work. Thanks for your help with this.

Samedirtybrush

I don't add any more gesso to black canvases. I just apply my colors and it works out great