In the world of art, there are so many mediums you can use to express yourself. One of the most popular forms is painting on canvas. Since the 14th century and still today, canvases tell stories of history and mythology; they decorate castles and homes and are on display in museums for generations to admire. If you’re looking to try this art form, you’re making a wise choice. To get started, let’s look at the beginner’s guide to painting on canvas.
Gather Your Supplies
There are a few basics you need to begin painting on canvas. After some time, as you advance and want to try new techniques, you can incorporate additional supplies into your collection. However, these are the basics to get right away:
- Canvases in multiple sizes
- Paints (oils or acrylics)
- A variety of paintbrushes
- A pencil
- A canvas eraser
- Water (for acrylic) or solvent (for oil) to thin paints and clean brushes
- Paper towel for drying brushes in between colors
- Tabletop or full-size easel
- Painting palette (you can buy one or use a paper plate)
You could skip the easel and lay the canvas on a tabletop; however, you may enjoy the angle more with an easel. Also, when choosing paints, know that acrylics are easy to clean up with just soap and water, while oils require special cleaning solutions.
Lightly Sketch
Once you set up your supplies, lightly sketch what you want to paint on the canvas. If you do it lightly, the paints will cover the pencil lines. You need only a very faint image to guide you as you paint. Your canvas eraser is there to help you fix mistakes as you sketch.
Decide on Colors
Before you grab your palette to place and mix small paint, choose the colors for your design so you don’t waste product. If you are new to painting, it may be fun to use color theory in your art as you explore new techniques. Art theory explains the color wheel and is a wonderful way to help if you aren’t sure which colors go together.
Prime the Canvas
Priming the canvas protects it so your artwork won’t crack or fade through the years. Today, the most popular choice for priming is a material called gesso, an acrylic medium. It looks like white paint. To apply it, simply paint it on the canvas and let it dry.
Have Fun Painting
Now for the fun part—it’s time to paint! Enjoy the process and refer to this beginner’s guide to painting on canvas when you need a refresher. Just remember to allow your canvas to dry before hanging it on the wall. Other than that, enjoy your new hobby!