Attaching things to canvas other than paint

[kit02]

Hi,

I want to try to add other items to the canvas other than oil paint. Say for example, sand, pebbles, wood - things of that nature and then paint over that with oil paints. How do I glue(?) those items to the canvas?

Thanks!
Kim

[rroberts]

Let's assume a canvas primed with acrylic gesso. A friend of mine uses acrylic gel. He mixes in pumice, coffee grounds and sometimes bird seed. When the gel is dry, he paints over all of that. Some of the textures are interesting.

With stuff like pebbles or wood, you probably would need to seal them so they aren't absorbent. And I would hesitate to glue anything too heavy to canvas. Better to go with panel, imho.

For either of the above, my choice would be to use acrylic paint instead of oil. More flexibility in the long run.

cheers!

[Brian Firth]

Acrylic modeling paste or matte gel mediums are a good choice. You could also use some of the thicker brands of acrylic gesso. After attaching the objects with the acrylic medium you should wait at least a week for it to fully dry to paint over it with oils.

[kit02]

HI,

Yes the canvas is primed with acrylic gesso.
So I can attach the sand, or whatever, with acrylic gel, wait until that dries then paint over it with oil?

Good point with weighing the canvas down - I will hold off on using anything too heavy and one day try panels for that.

Thanks!

[Paintbrush74]

I was under the impression that organic things like coffee grounds or bird seed might undergo structural changes and cause possible problems. Not sure though.

[kit02]

I was under the impression that organic things like coffee grounds or bird seed might undergo structural changes and cause possible problems. Not sure though.

I was more interested in using sand, have you heard that about sand?

I have been looking online for Acrylic gel and they have SO many. I also see textured gels and mortors with a sand texture in it already. How are those to use under oils?

Thanks,
Kim

[Paintbrush74]

Since sand is not organic, I don't think it would cause any problems, as long as it's fairly pure, and by that I mean with no organics. Someone else may know more than I do though, and maybe someone will chime in.

[Paintbrush74]

Originally Posted by kit02

I was more interested in using sand, have you heard that about sand?

I have been looking online for Acrylic gel and they have SO many. I also see textured gels and mortors with a sand texture in it already. How are those to use under oils?

Thanks,
Kim

Oh, I see your last question now. Well, I do know that the late Helen Van Wyk used to talk about having experimented with sand under her oils. I never heard her mention any problems with it.

[Alie]

On a few paintings that I added items (small metal charms) on oil paintings I was using wingel with one and a the heavy galkyd stuff (Forgot the name of it) on another. Both worked and the items are still securely sitting on/in the paintings 8 yrs later.

[Paintbrush74]

Originally Posted by Alie

On a few paintings that I added items (small metal charms) on oil paintings I was using wingel with one and a the heavy galkyd stuff (Forgot the name of it) on another. Both worked and the items are still securely sitting on/in the paintings 8 yrs later.

That sounds interesting. Love to see them sometime, if you have them online.

[Lupei85]

I use alot of texture in my poil paintings sometimes attaching such things as raffia, beads, twigs, feathers, sinew, twine, and small rocks. Some times I have attached these using wood glue and some items I can use sewing methods to attach them to the canvas, but most often I simply stick them into my modeling paste which I already use heavily in my pieces. Liquitex also makes what is called resin sand which I've found as a better option then trying to mix sand in myself. Just remember if you use something like wood glue it can be seen when it dries (yellowing) if application is not carefully hidden by the object. Also remember oil paint will eventually eat anything organic just like it'll eat your canvas if it's not gessoed properly. Good luck with your paintings.

[Lupei85]

*the resin sand gel I would suggest only using thin/lean painting techniques over it as it will disapper under thick/fat paint