Surfaces Articles: The Importance of Canvas Priming

When using oil colour on canvas it is important that your surface is primed correctly.

Canvas can be tested by painting a square of oil colour to test the absorbency of the primer. If your canvas has not been primed adequately or correctly, the oil will sink into the priming layer and will leave dull patches on the surface of your painting.

THIS IS THE MOST COMMON PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY ARTISTS, THEIR PAINTINGS LOOSE DEPTH, LACK COHESION OF THE IMAGE AND ARE STRUCTURALLY FAULTY.

Primers are extremely important which means that you need to consider five key purposes when priming your canvas:

1. Tooth:  Provides a necessary grip for the paint film.
2. Absorbency:  Limited absorbency assists the adhesion of the paint film to the priming.
3. Colour:  As a preliminary basenote for subsequent colour.  As oil paint becomes increasingly transparent as it ages an opaque white ground reflects back the maximum light.  In fact the painting will become brighter as have many of Turners’ sunsets.
4. Rigidity:  To compliment the nature of the paint film this assists the long term stability.
5. Coverage:  Adequate for the purpose.  One coat of a good quality primer should be sufficient.