need help with CANVAS!

[Revenants]

Now that I have more free time and I've seen a master painter at work. I figure that I should do more plein air paintings. A small problem is the canvas, as its kind of expensive. I'm not stingy when it comes to art stuff, but is there another solution other than to buy stock canvas from art stores? I made a few canvas before but never checked the price(it was part of school). I'm just doing speed paintings and it doesnt really matter if its canvas is crappier in quality as no one will buy these... I try following hawthorne's advice on starting many and finishing later, so most of my canvas are not finished in any sense, or will ever be.

Now the price here for stock canvas is 15 CND dollars for 5. size is a bit bigger than an A4. should I try masonite boards or illustration board? or should I stick with canvas?

[Elwell]

If you're doing plein air studies panels are probably more conveneint than stretched canvas anyway. The easiest thing is illustration board-- get double thick and put a few coats of acrylic gesso on both sides. If you start producing work that warrants something more sturdy move on to masonite. If you want texture there are always the el cheapo Fredrix canvas boards, which are cheaper than a stretched canvas, but look it. A roll of pre-primed canvas can be a big initial outlay, but the advantage for plein air work is that you can cut pieces to size and clip them to a board (lightweight and easy). Then, if you leave yourself a big enough border, you can stretch the ones that are worth it afterwards.

[loomer]

Ewell's got the good advice..masonite is always a favorite of plein air painters.
I know a few guys who used to just tape a piece of cut canvas on a piece of masonite...stretching it later if they wanted to save it.

And a new development: I personally hate canvas boards....to death. YOu can gesso that shit 400 times and it still sucks - at least to me. BUT Fredrix has just come out with a linen canvas board...I just ordered 2 to try out myself. Hopefully they will be much better to paint on than regular canvas board. If they are...they would be perfect for plein air work.

good luck man...show us what you whip up!

[Main Loop]

what medium are you planning to use.. oil?
I'd say gessoing masonite is the best way to go.. at home depot you can get 30x40 1/4 inch boards for like 8 bucks.. say you wanna work 6x8, that will get you 25 boards if you cut it right (i think, my math skills are rusty) liquitex gesso is about 13 bucks for a liter.. i think that will last you 2 boards.. so thats about 50 boards for 26 dollars.. not bad.. im totally winging the math though, so someone correct me

if you're open to suggestion, try some watercolors in a heavy paper sketchbook, or gouache on toned paper..

[Revenants]

oh the whole point is to practice oil :wink: It is my favourite medium afterall. I'll do the masonite thing, just one last question. How do you guys transport your wet canvas home? I cant think of any way to hold it, and I don't have a car. So I only go to this park near my house or get a drive.

edit: seen the linen boards before, they're quite expansive compared to canvas, plus I think texture is a good thing. Now if only oil brushes arent so hard to wash, then it'd be paradise. Btw, have anyone tried those brush clearners they sell? I've only used Master hand soap and it works okay but still need much scrubbing.


sigh... I just stopped being lazy and searched for forum and it seems like dishwasher detergent is what i was looking for... Thanks anyways.

[dbclemons]

The trick I came up with years ago to carry back wet panels from outside was to carry 2 same sized panels that were spaced apart by two small pieces of wood, and I had two small vise clamps to press them together, but I also had a car.

A buddy of mine who used those canvas boards would later rip off the cardboard and re-stretch them. Seemed like too much work for me. I'm a hardboard guy myself, although canvas texture is nice. I've also used thin wood panels I can sometimes find at hobby stores; although, the sizes are rather small. Be sure to get "untempered" hardboard (masonite) since tempered has an oil additive that is not good to paint on. If you get it at an art store, it's probably safe, but if from a lumber yard, you might want to ask.

For cleaning brushes, dish detergent is rather harsh. Hand soap or even shampoo is better. Think of it as what's best for washing hair. You can use safflower cooking oil to soak the brushes between use, then just sqeeze it out and wash it off or just use solvents - works well.

I switched to water-mixable oils a few years ago, and like them a lot. They're easier to clean, and look and work like regular oils. Best of all - no turpentine odor.

-David