Canvas: which is better?

[Lida Ogloblina]

Hello everyone. I'm not an artist, I work in russian magazine for painters and framers. Now I am writing the article about canvases. I talked with some russian specialists but all of them said the same: all the modern canvases are bad and they don't know what to do. May be you can help me and name some companies that product good canvases and explain why these materials are good? Please, be more detailed and state also the country of production (not only company)And also it is interesting to know what do you do if your canvas is bad? How do you improve it? So, it would be really great to hear your opinions about modern situation on canvases' market:)
Thanks

[dcorc]

So basically, you'd like us to write your article for you?

That's fine, if you'll pay us for it.

[Edgah]

I like Stretched. That's my preferred canvas. :wave:

[Lida Ogloblina]

No, I just want to know which canvases you prefer.Three words: I use this one, because bla bla bla, can't become an article. I hope you understand. A fortiori my article is already done, I just want to add some opinions.
I haven't thought that this post can call so strange reaction.

[dcorc]

No, I just want to know which canvases you prefer.Three words: I use this one, because bla bla bla, can't become an article. I hope you understand. A fortiori my article is already done, I just want to add some opinions.
I haven't thought that this post can call so strange reaction.

So lets get this straight. You are not an artist. You have no personal experience using canvases whatsoever. Bluntly, you know nothing about canvases except what other people are telling you. Despite this, you are writing an article for a magazine, for artists, which is going to be advising them about canvases??

According to your first post:
I talked with some russian specialists but all of them said the same: all the modern canvases are bad and they don't know what to do.

So you came here to pick the brains of the members.

I use this one, because bla bla bla, can't become an article.

Oh I'm sure it can. Besides, that's not what you asked for, in your first post, you asked members to provide a comprehensive review of the pros and cons on specific products.

I haven't thought that this post can call so strange reaction.

I don't think its a remotely strange reaction. Members here are generous with their time and information, and try to help those who seek information here.

However, in your case, I'm flagging up, so that people don't miss it, that you are not looking for information to help you become a better painter, or indeed a painter at all - but so that you can write an article on a subject you know essentially nothing about, which will be sold in a magazine.

[Lida Ogloblina]

Article is not of format "Do this, because it's written in magazine".
One part of article is academic information about canvases. About these features and qualities. This information was found from talking with scientists. Not painters. And from some books. Ideal canvas should be.. and smth like that.
And the second part is a overview of art market. There are these canvases and that canvases. Mr N advices to use this one because... And Mr M advices this one. THere is no my private opinion. And this article doesnot pretend to be a panacea.

[Lida Ogloblina]

And another thing.
You think that only ballet-dancer writes about ballet and only animals about animals?

[dcorc]

And another thing.
You think that only ballet-dancer writes about ballet and only animals about animals?

No, but if I was going to buy ballet-shoes, I'd be wanting to read about the alternatives from someone who actually has some experience wearing them.

I'm far from impressed with your "can you do my homework for me?" attitude.

Especially when I consider that its presumably "can you do my homework for me, for free, so I can get paid for it, and so that the magazine can sell information to its readers, that you shared for free"

[CareyG]

Mr N advices to use this one because... And Mr M advices this one.
So you're going to personally contact those who reply here to get their references? Or you're just going to put in some random comments from an internet forum, from people you do not know and artists who may or may not know what they are talking about?

And, since you say some of your article is already done, you must have some nice solid information about canvas already. I'm sure you would not just offer random comments to your readers, without any actual backing at all, right? You have done this scientific research into what makes the best canvas? You already know the qualities of a good vs a poor one? (That is certainly not what your first post says.)

I'm afraid my reaction is just the same as Dave's.

~!Carey

[tomasis]

just write about hemp canvas.. so we can have more stuffs to buy .. hemp!

it is what old masters used in old times. :)

a tip for you, journalist: make search, Google "wetcanvas" "canvas"

[DaveGhmn]

I, for one, am stunned at how different the mood and approach of the replies in this thread are from the majority of WetCanvas discussions. Most of our posts are helpful.

As a freelance writer, I can assure all that you can write compelling articles about topics you knew nothing about when the assignment started. As Lida says (or at least implies), the process involves talking with people who do know, working with them to be sure the words that you use have captured their intent.

Lida, I'm not sure what aspects of artistic canvas that the experts did not feel right about. We see many attitudes about it here, which more or less resolve to 2:
A. canvases must be prepared in the historic manner, with rabbit-skin glue priming and traditional gesso (whiting or ground chalk + linseed oil)
B. canvases primed with acrylic primer and acrylic gesso will withstand more flexing and abuse than those primed in traditional ways

History gives plenty of examples of historical canvases whose paint film is in terrible shape -- cracking, spalling -- because the traditional materials crack when flexed.

On the other hand, the march of science has plenty of examples of modern materials that fail over time, despite the best we can do with accelerated aging, extreme UV or IR exposure, or other longevity tests.

Unfortunately, I personally don't know who makes the most sound or best-manufactured canvas. Not many members here will know, either, not by first-hand experience of the manufacturing processes and materials used.

Did you search out and talk with art canvas manufacturers? Most of the ones in the States are resellers of canvases made by others, but I'd think that Claessens might have insights. Viet Nam has quite an industry going, and the pre-stretched Viet Namese canvas I've purchased seem competently made... though I don't know who to contact in Viet Nam. One of the companies has a YouTube video outlining its processes, but I can't find it at the moment.

Meanwhile, as someone who is serious about painting, but nearly 70 years old, I don't give much of a hoot if they fall apart in 30 years. My approach and style appeals strongly to some people, but is far out of the art mainstream.

So, somebody will have started a fire with most of my works by 2040, or roofed a dog house with them, or simply thrown them in the trash. And I'm fully confident that museum conservators will never have heard of me...

[sidbledsoe]

Lida is not an artist, join date of today, here soliciting for a free survey for her job while bumping another artists' thread who joined to be a part of this community, I prefer to save my advice and give her the advice to engage in searching threads already here regarding this well covered topic.

[CareyG]

the process involves talking with people who do know,
Well, my particular issue is that, inquiring on an internet forum, you do not know to whom you are speaking. You will get every answer from the book on an internet forum. (And just because an artist is a good artist, that does not make them knowledgeable concerning materials, so just looking up their work does not cut it.)

Yes, I do believe highly in many of the members here and their knowledge, but there is still a whole lot of bad information put out here from people who really don't know any better, and I would not expect someone who is not a regular here to be able to sort out the good information from the bad information. Journalism *ought* to rely on fact. Where opinion is called for, it should be backed up, not just given out randomly.

~!Carey

[DaveGhmn]

CareyG, point taken. I didn't articulate it, but the concepts you state were at the back of my mind, and were the reason that I steered her to canvas manufacturers... even though they may be speaking through their marketing hat.

What a shame that AMIEN.org is not back among the living...

[dcorc]

I, for one, am stunned at how different the mood and approach of the replies in this thread are from the majority of WetCanvas discussions. Most of our posts are helpful.

That would be because most of the threads posted here are by people who sincerely want to learn, in order to improve their own knowledge.

Lida is not an artist, join date of today, here soliciting for a free survey for her job while bumping another artists' thread who joined to be a part of this community,

Exactly. What we have, on the other hand, in this thread, is a commercial writer thinks its acceptable to come here and freeload off the membership, to obtain information she's then going to make money off by selling on.

[Keith Russell]

One part of article is academic information about canvases. About these features and qualities. This information was found from talking with scientists.

Well, since you're asking for our opinions, why not share some of what you found out from "talking with scientists", with us?

It would look a lot less like you're asking us to do your work, if you'd share the work you've already done.

Thanks!

I'm using up the canvases I have bought, pre-stretched, from art supply stores, and am switching to traditionally-primed panels, that I make myself. I don't like the "give" of stretched fabric, and I don't like the texture of canvas or linen, either. I also don't like painting on acrylic-based gesso.

[bjr001]

I talked with some russian specialists but all of them said the same: all the modern canvases are bad and they don't know what to do. May be you can help me and name some companies that product good canvases and explain why these materials are good? Please, be more detailed and state also the country of production (not only company)And also it is interesting to know what do you do if your canvas is bad? How do you improve it? So, it would be really great to hear your opinions about modern situation on canvases' market
Thanks
I removed the greeting and the first 2 sentences from the original statement. How much different really is this statement now compared to any typical post that asks for opinions, advise or experience on a product? Think about it now and the next time someone does ask a similar question. Will you answer it? Also, think of the impression Linda has walked away with of WC.

[llawrence]

Well, since you're asking for our opinions, why not share some of what you found out from "talking with scientists", with us?That's just what I was thinking. Please share, Lida: How come "all the modern canvases are bad" according to Russian specialists?

[Dana Design]

If you're going to write a technical article on canvas, I would suggest that you purchase every type and make of canvas and test them yourself. That is the only way you're going to be able to write an accurate article from your point of view.

Repeating others' opinions is a haphazard way of producing fact and information and would not be technically sound.

[Dana Design]

I am now closing this thread as this subject has been covered repeatedly in the past.