Creative & Culture

How To Prepare A Canvas To Paint

Preparing your canvas before painting with oils is very important, as it will increase the life of your painting by providing a strong base for the paints to adhere to. In this guide, Marcia Kay Ellis, creative artist and art tutor, shows you how to prime and prepare a canvas to paint. Enlarge

How To Prepare A Canvas To Paint

Preparing your canvas before painting with oils is very important, as it will increase the life of your painting by providing a strong base for the paints to adhere to. In this guide, Marcia Kay Ellis, creative artist and art tutor, shows you how to prime and prepare a canvas to paint.

You Will Need

  • canvas
  • gloves
  • brush
  • old knife
  • oil primer
  • old rag
  • white spirit

Top Tips

  • Sometimes, when it has been sitting unused for any length of time, the primer will split and oil will rise to the surface. If this happens, just give the primer a really good mix before you use it.
  • Of course, you can buy pre-primed canvases and canvas boards from any art supply store, but priming your own is cheaper.
  • Cover the entire canvas, including the sides, with the primer, to ensure that every brush stroke is protected. On a deep sided canvas, it is likely you will continue your painting over the sides, to give a sense of depth to the picture and also to avoid a sudden sharp change to white - unless, of course, that is the effect you are trying to achieve!
  • Primer is very sticky so always wear gloves. If you do get any on your skin, use washing up liquid or white spirit to wash it off, as these both work to break down oil. Washing up liquid is gentler on your skin but white spirit will work faster.