Priming a Canvas

To prime or not to prime? To gesso or not to gesso? The answer is always yes to prime or gesso a canvas before painting. Now technically not all primers are gesso but all gesso are primers, or so I have been told.

A primer preps a canvas for paint, so does a gesso, they create a barrier between the paint and canvas.  As an oil painter, this is a really important first step of painting, otherwise the oil paint will eat into the canvas over time. I never used to gesso or prime because the canvas comes pre-primed, however, a stern discussion with my art teacher quickly changed my ways, and maybe there is an early painting or two where I can see this has happened…

I use Art Spectrum Oil Prime for my large canvases or for paintings I know will have a lot of layers.  If I’m doing a small canvas, one of my 10cm x 10cm tiny works, then I will use a standard gesso as these paintings have less paint on them.  I will stress this is a personal choice.

Art Spectrum Oil Prime has a beautiful thick creamy texture that I love, the can says it is best used on wood panels, however, I like the initial chalky feel the primer gives to the canvas. Because I paint with a lot of thin layers and use medium in my paints, I don’t see that this primer adds any adverse affects to the overall painting.

Every artist will prime a canvas differently, for me the process is a 4 step process, whether I use oil prime or gesso:

• Using water lightly brush the whole canvas front and into the back of the canvas around the frame. This will help the canvas to re-stretch back onto the frame after any movement during shipping.
• Whilst the canvas is still wet, using the watered brush, paint on the first layer of primer.
• Wait 24 hours, then without adding water, paint the second layer of primer, in the opposite direction of the first layer.
• Wait 24 hours again, then paint on the third and final layer of primer with a brush and roll over it with a roller to smooth out the surface.

 There will be a bit of picking out any fluff or debris that somehow lands on the canvas from who knows where during the process.  Many artists will wait until the primer is touch dry to do the next coat or to begin painting, however I like to wait 24 hours.  I don’t sand between coats as I like the little bumps and ridges that priming can add and this is because of the subjects I paint, it suits the overall piece to have imperfections.   My work has a lot of detail in the under drawing, if I am going to use a lead pencil, I will draw my subject up between the 2nd and third layer of priming, this will help to “seal” the drawing and prevent the lead from being visible in the finished painting.   I buy my primer and gesso from either https://.artshedbrisbane.com.au or from https://seniorart.com.au/. Both of these stores are in West End, Brisbane and they usually have one on sale at the time I am buying.

What is your preferred method of preparing a canvas for painting?   Please note I do not have afflliations with Art Spectrum, Art Shed Brisbane or Senior Art, I am sharing my artistic processes , the materials I use and where I purchase them from to assist other artists in decision making for their processes.