Which canvas should I use for painting?

Canvas is a surface used for oil or acrylic painting. For artists, choosing the right canvas according to the need is very important. Texture, fabric, color, and type, all matter when it's about having the right choice.

It usually comes in white and black, where the white canvas is mostly used for paintings than the black.

Fabric:
Canvases are made up of two fabrics - Linen and cotton.
These fabrics are constructed of fibers that are woven together. Different textures on canvases are the result of how finely fibers are woven. The rough-textured surface and smooth-textured surface are usually preferred for large and small size artworks respectively.

• Cotton - This fabric is made up of a cotton plant. It is affordable and popular among beginner artists and students. Cotton can be stretched tighter than linen without straining the wooden support.
• Linen - It is made up of a flax plant and considered as strong and durable, due to this, it is preferred by many artists. It has more natural weaves than cotton.

Priming -
Priming is the process of producing barrier between fabric and color or paint. Most canvases are primed with the "gesso". Gesso is a mixture of glue, chalk, plaster of paris, gypsum, pigments or any of them. The unprimed canvas means the canvas which is not primed with gesso, can soak up all colors into its fabric which can cause canvas decay. Most of the canvases are primed but some artists prefer to use unprimed canvas for a raw outcome.

Types of canvases are as follows -

1)Stretched Canvas :

This canvas is very popular among artists. It is constructed with the help of canvas fabric that is stretched over a wooden frame. This canvas is more expensive than other canvases. Most commonly it is made up of cotton but also, found in linen. It comes in different shapes and sizes and its wooden frame also comes in different sizes. It is light in weight, easy to hang since it has a wooden frame.

2)Unstretched canvas/ roll canvas :

This is more affordable than stretched canvas. It is just a piece of fabric that is available in either cotton or linen that can be accessed either primed or unprimed. It comes in different weight, length, texture, and fiber. It is nearly impossible to hang a larger size of this canvas, to hang this you first need to get its framing done. Some of the experienced artists use this canvas because they enjoy working on it and stretching it on their own.

3)Canvas boards/ canvas panels :

It is made up of canvas glued on stiff cardboard. It is usually available in primed cotton. These boards are great for students and beginner artists, as these are bit inexpensive than stretched canvas, though they are an equivalent quality canvas, which is just glued on board. This canvas is thinner than a stretched canvas and is available in different shapes and sizes. It is hard to hang unless you frame these canvases.

4)Canvas pad :

This canvas pad contains numbers of primed sheets or heavy-weight paper that are bound in a book. It is the most affordable alternative for students or for practicing acrylic and oil painting. It has surface texture like other canvases.  A good quality canvas pad can last longer for years but is not that durable like other canvases. This pad allows you to make mistakes, practice new techniques and also get start painting as a beginner.

So, always choose your canvas according to your need, budget and hands-on painting.




Thank you.

(Image source - Pinterest and Unsplash )