by Jane Sutherland

Canvas vs. Board

I usually use canvas for my oil paintings, but lately I’ve been interested in using board instead. What type should I use?

There are many types of boards suitable for painting supports, including plywood, Masonite, and Presdwood, as well as such metals as copper, aluminum, zinc, and steel. (These supports can be cut to size at lumberyards and building-supply stores.) Cardboard is also suitable, as long as it’s 100 percent rag. However, do not use inexpensive cardboard, such as chipboard, as it is made from wood pulp and treated with alkali and will eventually become brittle and discolor. There are also panel products ready for use, as well as cradled and uncradled wood panels. You can also use the various new papers on the market that are suitable for painting. Of course, canvas boards are always available, but these vary in quality.

Most panel products require simple surface preparation before applying a ground. Begin by beveling the edges with sandpaper or a file to prevent the paint from chipping around the edges. Plywood, Masonite, and Presdwood panels require degreasing before applying an acrylic gesso ground. Use a cloth dipped in a bit of alcohol and rub over the panel gently to lift the oily surface. To abrade the surface of a metal panel use an orbital sander or a file to roughen and create a slight tooth before adding a thin coat of acrylic gesso.  Acrylic paints are generally recommended for metal surfaces.

Applying Canvas to Panels

What is the best way to glue canvas to Masonite or other wood panel? What glue should I use? What is the drying time?

The difference among adhesives appropriate for mounting a textile to a panel is in their permanence. Hide glue, which is reversible, allows for future removal of the canvas from the support for repairs or other reasons. The disadvantage of hide glue is that it is susceptible to moisture absorption and could eventually come loose. However, this is still a simple and effective way for mounting a canvas to a panel. Another good glue for adhering canvas to panel is acrylic gel medium thinned with water. To mount the canvas to the panel, first remove any oil from the panel by rubbing it with a bit of alcohol or by gently sanding as described in the previous question. Remove any dust. Coat the panel and the back of the canvas with the glue. (Follow the directions on the label.) Lay the canvas flat on the panel and, starting in the center and radiating out to the edges, press it flat with the palm of your hand. You can also go over the surface with a brayer to eliminate any air bubbles. Lean the panel against the wall and allow to dry overnight.

Surfaces for Casein

Someone recently recommended using a stretched canvas as a support for painting in casein. I always thought casein had to be painted on a rigid surface. Which is true?

Both recommendations are true; but it is also true that rigid panels, museum boards, heavy papers, and thin papers and fabrics mounted on board are more typically used with casein. Because canvas has a fair amount of flexibility, and because casein is one of the most brittle of all media, only thin applications of casein dissolved with water should be used on canvas. Otherwise all the supports used with other water-based media are appropriate for use with casein painting. Casein is a relatively versatile medium and can be applied with moderate impasto or with a smoother, thinner technique. If used too thickly, the casein surface will crack. This is especially true if the top layers have more glue content than the lower layers. Also keep in mind that although you can thin the layers of casein paint with a generous amount of water it may also cause the fresh paint underneath to dissolve. By adding a drop of acrylic matte medium to the water you can avoid this effect.

Priming Linen

I have read that it’s necessary to use acrylic gesso to prime a linen canvas.  Does it always need to be stretched before doing this? I would like to prime a large piece of linen, tack it down, and then cut it into smaller pieces to take with me when I travel. Will this compromise the durability of the canvas?

Linen comes in different weights and weaves. Choose a fabric that is a medium weight with a weave that’s relatively tight, and be sure it is for artist use. Because linen will shrink when the size and ground are added, place the tacks close together at regular intervals before you cut it so that it is flat and symmetrical once it dries.      

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