my oil paint is cracking

[Kenny_Callicutt]

my last two painttings have cracked and its freaking me out, I cant figure out what it is, but the only thing I can figure thats causing it is the kilz primer that Im using. It seems that when I put multiple coats of primer on it makes the paints crack. Im not sure that this is what is actually happening but im just kinda guessing. I know its not the paints cuz ive done plenty of paintings out of the same tubes that these last two were from., im only using gamsol and a little galkyd everynow and then.. as a medium. I guess what Im trying to find out is if anyone else has had a similar problem? or what else causes oil paints to crack? btw.. ive gone and bought actual artist gesso to test if that works out better.. so ill post an update on how that works out.. but Id appreciate any comments about this problem.

[Elwell]

What support?
What ground?
What brand of paint?
What colors?
What mediums/additives? (Answered)
What exactly do the cracks look like?
How soon did they appear?

EDIT: On rereading I see where you mentioned you are using a commercial wall primer instead of gesso. There's your problem. Never expect things that aren't manufactured and sold specifically as art supplies to behave like them.

[Kenny_Callicutt]

Even tho youve answered the question for shits and giggles ill answer all those others that you asked just to make sure its only the commercial wall primer causing the problem.

suppourt- masonite, either painting on primed masonite or painting on canvas mounted on masonite.

ground- kilz primer premium

brand of paint- winsor newton(pro grade) and winton(Ithink thats the student grade) and rembrants

colors- magenta aliziron crim. cad red. cad yellow.cad orange burnt umber/sienna, sap green, napels yellow.. premalba white, ult blue, indian yellow, raw sienna, prussian. ( My pallet is usually limited to maybe 4-6 of these)

the cracks looked like the cracks you see on really really old oil paintings.. sorta spidery cracks

they appeared within a few hours and the oils were dry.

I know it seems very obvious that my problem is the commercial primer and im wasting time talking about this, but I a few paintings prior to these last two that cracked using the kilz primer and they havent cracked. The only thing I changed is I added more than one coat of primer..

that and I didnt just go out and find something I thought was a good replacement for gesso, I saw freinds doing it and even a professor I think.. and I got the same stuff they use.. and they dont have problems with cracking

[dbclemons]

I'm not familiar with the stuff you're using, but what typically causes cracking is the top layer drying faster than the bottom layer, or maybe that primer contracts as it dries. Find out what the recommended curing time for that stuff is.

[Chingwa]

Kilz is really a sealant for moisture and stains and is water based. I've only used acrylic paints with it, and I'm not sure how it would react to oil based paint. But I was using it to paint my kitchen, not to paint artwork. That's your problem for sure... as I think you've already realized. Get some acrylic gesso or pva glue. :)

[Zebz]

Better tape and or glue that shit up!

[Blue]

Quick fix? Add linseed oil to your paints. It will gloss higher, dilute slightly and take longer to dry, but won't crack.

[cotron]

^^^ too much linseed and it goes yellow over time, though. too much of a drying medium can lead to cracking as well.... don't know if galkyd does that though, that stuff makes paint into syrup.