Linen or Canvas, is it worth the price difference?

[timpaatkins]

So, after painting on Ampersand panels for a while, (with regular acrylic gesso) I'm thinking of gluing some canvas or linen on to them, with PVA sizing and using W&N Oil painting ground. Ive never been able to figure out WHY linen is preferred over canvas (or are people just being art snobs?)

I mean, I can understand that linen is lighter and has a stronger fiber, and that was why it was used back in the day, but today we have canvas that is very strong too, and not prone to ripping, unless you do some crazy dancing with golf shoes on them. I could never quite figure out why people would say its "nicer" to paint on, when it get covered in three layers of gesso anyway.

Any users here?

[EightArms]

Linen has a way nicer texture and holds up a lot better. So it depends on what you're using these panels for-- canvas is fine for studies and experimental work that you aren't worried about.

Elmer's glue makes an excellent archival sizing and adhesive for gluing canvas down, btw, and it's super cheap. For a ground, I use Utrecht white thinned w/turps and scrubbed in good.