Making textured ground for oil painting

[blobby]

Hi!
I want to apply texture to canvas or board, so that when it dries I can paint over it with oils, but don't know what to use for making the texture.
I don't want to make the texture with the oil paint itself, I want to apply some kind of paste on the canvas to make texture (Don't need it too thick) and use oil paint over that.
I have seen texture pastes in art supply places, but they all seem to be for acrylic painting.
Does anyone know of anything suitable?

[Bright Eyes]

Artist grade acrylic pastes and gels. Acrylic is more flexible so you won't have to worry about it cracking. And is dries overnight! As long as you use the professional grade you won't have any problems with the oil paint bonding to it. My personal favorites are the Atelier Interactive pastes. I like the quality of them over golden and liquitex brands. This painting was done with acrylic gels and paint for the underpainting and then the top layer with all the detail on top.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-Jan-2009/139098-Monica-and-Frankie-33-WC.jpg

[Aires]

I've noticed some fine portraits done with acrylic gels for texture in the background. When dry you just paint in your usual style. While it isn't universally accepted, many artists begin their underpaintings with acrylic and then finish with the slower drying oils. It seems archival qualities have not yet been proven. I believe you will also find artists who add pumice to gesso to get a texture they like and that holds paint well. There is quite a bit of information in the forums on this subject.

[Einion]

Some acrylic 'gesso' primers are quite thick and you can get a noticeable texture using them undiluted. Since you're not looking for much in the way of height that could do.

If you need more body you can blend 'gesso' with one of the acrylic texture mediums, especially the matt ones as you don't want this to be too shiny when dry.

Einion

[K. Henderson]

Yes, I was going to recommend gesso applied with a sponge roller if you are wanting just a bit of a texture.

[artbyDanielDyment]

I have a super heavy gesso by Liquitex. it is good for creating textural grounds and is good for use with oils.

[nit-wit]

You could try a heavier canvas. Guaguin and Van Gogh sometimes used very heavy and crude canvas - which may well have been hessian sacking? Texture of a uniform nature gained in this case.

Some artists have also been known to throw a bit of sand into their paint to get texture. I don't know how this might affect the longevity of paint though?

Andrew

[wetbob]

I dont know how mutch texture you want.

There are endless posibilities. sawdust, sand, plaster bandage (mixed with special sand). You may apply it straight to your canvas or mix some with paint.
Ask your reseller, google the net or
You might ask the question in the abstracts section.

Good luck

[blobby]

Hi
Thanks everyone for your ideas and examples of what you do.

I think gel would be too liquid for what I was after, but it was interesting to see the effect it makes, thanks!
The heavy gesso idea might be the one to try, as I want to make shapes and lumps with a palette knife that make a texture like you could with wet plaster rather than make a rough canvas type texture.

Maybe the abstract section would have been a good place to ask, but as I need it for oils I felt abstract painters so often use acrylics, so thought I'd ask in here - thanks for all your great help!:)

[artbyDanielDyment]

The gesso is good for palette knife application. You should look into it.

[wetbob]

Wo wants acrylics?

I m the oils addict. Some do abstracts with oils. Or a combination

[wetbob]

i did a little search for you:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509427&highlight=texture+oil

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=334920&highlight=texture+oil

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330198&highlight=texture+oil

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437056&highlight=oil+plaster