Q: I like the color of raw linen and the effect I get when painting directly on it with oil colors, but I have been told that this practice is problematic. Do I have to use primer and give up my favorite way to paint?

A: It is not advisable to paint with oils directly on raw canvas-either cotton or linen-because this can make the fabric brittle as a result of the acidic nature of the linseed oil. You can, however, get almost exactly the same effect by painting on sized canvas.

Comments

Some watercolor paper have de word NOT printed on it. What does the word NOT mean in this case?

Painting on a linen support that's only been sized is problematic, too: the size may inhibit adhesion of the oil paint to the linen if it's not perfectly applied.

How about trying this? Size and prime your stretched linen with a ground, but scrape off some of the ground so that some of the the threads of the linen are visible. Then, apply an imprimatura tinted to match the color of the linen. Paint on that and see if it doesn't go more than half-way to meeting your desires.

you can buy clear gesso.
I know it's not the same (as I love the feel and look of oil on raw surfaces also) but that's my recommendation as in time the organic oil will rot the natural substrate if there is no barrier.

If you dilute either the aforementioned clear gesso or matte medium way down 3-4 parts water to 1 part acrylic,and wring or squegee the excess out allow the canvas to dry before painting your results should be satisfactory.

If you dilute either the aforementioned clear gesso or matte medium way down 3-4 parts water to 1 part acrylic,and wring or squegee the excess out allow the canvas to dry before painting your results should be satisfactory.

Let me answer Serfio Antunes' question about watercolor paper which has the word NOT printed on it. The word NOT is a term from England that refers only to the surface of the paper. It is the American equivalent of Coldpressed surface. It means NOT Hotpressed or calendered. The term has nothing to do with how the watercolor paper is made or the sizing, either internal or external. The term NOT is used on all English artist papers (drawing, watercolor, printmaking, etc.) when the paper has a Coldpressed surface.