For years I’ve been using acrylic-primed, stretched canvas that I purchased from art stores in my area.

A few facts: The canvas fabric, whether it be linen, or cotton, is susceptible to deterioration (rotting) if it comes into contact with…….your guessed it–OIL PAINT. This deterioration will not occur overnight, or within a couple of months, but I’ve actually see evidence of it on some of my painted canvases, on which I had actually painted some Bob Ross style paintings!

The canvas becomes stained on the back, indicating that the oil paint is soaking into the fibers of the fabric of the canvas.

Acrylic priming is applied to the raw cloth of the canvas for the purpose of protecting the canvas from the eventual ravages of oil paint.

However, while most store-bought canvases have acrylic priming applied to them, there is not nearly enough to protect the canvas from the oil paint.

As a result, I’ve been applying many extra coats of acrylic primer to my already-acrylic-primed canvases, for over 30 years. When I open my new canvas, I first sand the surface of the existing, “gesso” (acrylic-primed) surface, using 150-grit sandpaper, and sanding very lightly, but thoroughly.

Then, I take Grumbacher 525 Acrylic Gesso, and thin it with water, mixing it until it will run, not just drip, off the corner of my putty knife mixer. I apply this thinned Acrylic Primer with a household sash brush. If it is thin enough with water, it will be “self-leveling”, meaning that the brush strokes will settle, and smooth out after a few seconds of having been applied.

I apply 3 coats of this acrylic primer, stroking vertically for one application, horizontally for the next, then vertically for the next, etc. I allow each application to dry before applying the next.

I sand after every 3 applications. My goal is to thoroughly protect the canvas, and I’ve decided that 3 applications is the bare minimum that will accomplish that. On my canvases, I apply anywhere from 3 to 12 coats of Grumbacher 525 Acrylic Gesso, thinned with water, and brushed on. I can accomplish that entire process within one afternoon.

I sand after the final coat, and I allow it to dry for a week or two before applyiing oil paint to the surface.

When people prime their walls for paint, usually they have a choice of getting the primer (gesso) toned to a similar shade to that of the final paint. Artists also do this for the same or similar reasons. You can also paint the first layer of the painting (if you know what it is) in primer (gesso), usually one tone, but also you can paint in more than one. I used to add acrylic paint to the gesso, they are basically the same thing, so since they are made of nearly the same thing, they also chemically match, so there is no problem mixing them. How much pigment is up to you. I usually go to Hobby Lobby and get some cheap pigment. You might also use wall paint. This is only on the final gesso layer. There are usually several layers of gesso.

Yes it is a bit more pastel due to the addition of the white in gesso, but the final layer of gesso is going to use much less because it is no longer being used to soak into the threads of the canvas.

I use thick unprimed canvas duck by the way, not that plastic-ish stuff they sell for student painters. There are many grades and thicknesses of canvas, including the stuff used for floor cloths which is very thick. I used to work for an opera company making backdrops, and saw that it can be found in many widths and grades that most artists do not even get into.

I used to paint on canvas, but now I mostly paint on primed rigid panels. Unless you want the look that canvas texture gives to a painting, ( I do not.) you might give that a try to see if you like it. If you do want the weave texture, just mount the canvas on a panel rather than stretching it.

I find it interesting how some artists go to great lengths to hide the texture of the canvas with multiple layers of gesso when they should probably forget the canvas altogether and go with a primed panel. No stretching required. Significantly more resistant to damage of the support material as well as a lower risk of cracking of the paint layers, than a stretched canvas The cost can be quite a bit less, particularly for hardboard, for what I feel is a superior surface.

Lots of information can be found on WC and via Google about priming hardboard, Masonite, Dibond etc.

Actually, a lot of the canvases that are available online or in the art store are double or triple primed depending on what brand you use. I would always pick the professional grade canvases. The canvas I paint on is sized with acrylic size and then has 2 layers of acrylic gesso. The surface is very nice and I do not put any extra coats of acrylic gesso on it……although many people do. You can also buy pre-stretched oil primed canvas. This should have 1 coat of size (rabbit skin glue) and 2 or more coats of oil primer.