Unprimed Cotton Canvas

Preparing Unprimed Cotton Canvas for Use: Artists, generally the more accomplished, often prefer to use unprimed cotton canvas over any other. Many artists like to prime their own canvas before beginning their work. Unprimed cotton canvas can be purchased in any volume. Some simply buy the amount needed for the project at hand while others purchase the unprimed cotton canvas roll. Priming canvas is rather easy.

Blick No. 10 Extra Extra Heavy Canvas		Blick No. 10 Extra Extra Heavy Cotton Canvas Rolls		Blick No. 12 Heavy Weight Canvas		Blick No. 12 Heavy Weight Cotton Canvas Rolls
Price: $17		Price: $18		Price: $16 - $22		Price: $22
Brand: Blick		Brand: Blick		Brand: Blick		Brand: Blick
Sometimes, even Blick's No.		Sometimes, even Blick's No.		Blick's No.		Blick's No.
Fredrix Folded Blanket Canvas		Fredrix Folded Cotton Canvas Blankets		Fredrix Style 568 Medium Weight Canvas		Fredrix Style 568 Medium Weight Cotton Canvas Rolls
Price: $94 - $143		Price: $143		Price: $41 - $58		Price: $30
Brand: Fredrix		Brand: Fredrix		Brand: Fredrix		Brand: Fredrix
Stretch and prime your own canvas without the hassle of transporting a large roll!		Stretch and prime your own canvas without the hassle of transporting a large roll!		Style 568, a selected artists' grade of finest pure cotton duck, is a medium weight canvas.		Style 568, a selected artists' grade of finest pure cotton duck, is a medium weight canvas.
Medium Texture #10 Army Duck Cotton		Medium Texture #12 Army Duck Cotton		Medium Texture Raw Linen		Portrait Texture Raw Linen
Price: $55 - $73		Price: $59		Price: $105 - $143		Price: $107
Brand: The Art Store		Brand: The Art Store		Brand: The Art Store		Brand: The Art Store
100% pure unprimed cotton has a medium texture and close weave construction.		100% pure unprimed cotton has a medium texture and close weave construction.		100% pure Belgian unprimed linen has a medium tooth and texture.		100% pure Belgian unprimed linen has a smooth texture for portrait painting.

The canvas becomes smoother with each coat of primer that is applied. To prime a canvas, try using the technique that follows:

• Before priming a canvas, stretching must be completed.
• Most artists use gesso for priming. It is suitable for painting with acrylic and oil paints. It tends to dry rapidly and can be applied directly to the canvas.
• Always shake the gesso container rapidly and for up to a minute before using. Never forget to perform this step. Your priming efforts will be destroyed if gesso is not shaken.\
• Be sure to that you have enough gesso for the amount of priming you wish to do. Only one coat will leave your canvas rather rough.
• For more than one coat of gesso, you can dilute the product. Use a blend of half water and half acrylic gloss medium.
• Select an old clean brush that is wide.
• Begin to apply gesso in strokes that are even. Start at the top of the canvas moving to the bottom. Use parallel strokes working from edge to edge.
• Continue the process until the whole canvas is covered with gesso. Allow to dry.
• Wash your wide brush as soon as you are finished with the last stroke. Gesso dries quickly. It will not wash out of your brush if allowed to dry.

Remember to allow your first coat of gesso to dry completely before applying a second. This allows for a smoother surface. Any rough spots that were found on the canvas during stretching should have been smoothed using a nail file or sandpaper. Smooth surfaces make for ease in delivering a professional piece of artwork.