Hi all,

What are your thoughts about canvas quality? Is it ok to use the 3-pack from Michael's for $15? Or does it really make a difference if I get the $50 canvas? I am just starting out, so purchasing a canvas, that I might ruin, for $50 is a bit steep and a bigger bravery test than I'd like to take at this point.

Thank you.

My experience on this would be that on budget canvasses, you might need to apply at least an extra layer of white gesso. The more quality canvasses have at least two, most three layers of their own so, that is more the sufficient.
I often use budget canvasses and either put on an extra layer of white gesso or black gesso, if needed for the creation!

Good luck!

Bob makes sure to say "double-primed" in every episode. The point is to keep the liquid white/clear from soaking into the canvas. Given two coats of primer, I don't think quality is an enormous concern, particularly for practice. I should probably mention here that gesso and acrylic primer behave differently. One coat of acrylic will do, because it's essentially a plastic and impervious to oil. But gesso, which is gypsum in a binder, and quite absorptive, will require two coats at least.

Thanks for the replies. I don't have any issue with the paint being absorbed--if anything, it's having too much liquid white! But it sounds like from the replies so far that I don't need to get top-of-the-line canvases. That's a relief!

cdub0021 Concerning the amount of liquid white, too much is indeed as bad as too few.
You really need to make certain all of the canvas is covered with it (criss cross strokes) but not drenched.
A good trick for this is to test it with your finger. Gently place your finger on the canvas after applying the L-white and if you can clearly see your fingerprint, then it is allright. If you see your finger covered in white, then you applied too much (whipe some off gently with paper towel). If you can hardly see any print on your finger, you apllied too few.
Btw, this is not my trick but one from Dana Jester.
Good luck!

      I’m so sorry I didn’t see this sooner - they were just on sale at michaels! Every several months they go on sale for 75% off. I stocked up on a bunch in March 2 days before lockdown and then just bought a bunch more. Sure my hubby and the workers look at me like I’m nuts for buying so many but I’m ready for lockdown #2 when it happens!

      I started with the level 3 because at 75% off it was the best deal and only came out to $5 on the size I paint the most. The gallery wrapping is lovely and it can be hung without the need for framing and still look professional - well the canvas not my work hehe. The texture is quite rough however and I need to gesso several layers and sand if I want to do any detail work. It’s more designed to withstand a heavy use of paint - which comes in handy with me sometimes since I obsessively layer paint until I’m satisfied. The heavy duty nature of the canvas prevents it from buckling under the weight of the paint. It’s probably a great option for paint pouring or for larger works. I recently bought the ultra smooth level 2 to see if I can avoid the gesso and sanding step but haven’t tried it out yet.

      If you subscribe with them you can get text alerts for sales. So sorry I missed this post as it looks like the sale just ended. If you are in Michigan let me know and I can give you some of the ultra smooth level 2 and level three gallery wraps to try. That way you will know if you like it and can stock up during the next sale. I think that’s the highest quality they go at Michael’s. I will create a post on forum if I spot any art deals in the future ☺️

      Since today, certain shops have reopened during our (Begian) lockdown. Immediately I went for some canvasses and bought 39 in total of wich 6 high quality and the rest budget canvasses.
      Of course you might already guess that I paid more for the 6 quality ones then for the 33 budget ones!!!
      CRAZY world!!!

      Happy paintings everybody!!

      Also I want to say that if you are starting out it’s good to have plenty of “cheap stuff” available to practice new techniques. I have plenty of canvas boards so I don’t make a mess on my nicer canvases. That being said - if you are going to attempt an entire painting and not just a practice technique do it on something decent that you won’t mind hanging. I recently did one of an animals eye for practice so I did it on a 3x recycled $1 canvas. It’s my husbands favorite painting I’ve ever done and wants to hang it even though you can see under paint and it’s buckled in 1 or 2 spots. Now I have to do it again on a better canvas and hopes he likes it just as much 😅

      I have a stock of the Michael's canvases.. I dont as a rule gesso them unless I'm using grey or black. . I also use a lot of the canvas printed paper.. it's a lot easier to store 🙂 Lately I have I have experimenting with different under colors using acrylic paint. So in a way, I guess you could say I "gesso" them .. maybe.. kinda sorta

        There remains controversy about the archival properties of oil over acrylic. As I mentioned above, acrylic is a plastic and oil-resistant, and the fear is eventually the oil paint may separate from the acrylic substrate. I had an art professor who wouldn't even discuss it, oil over acrylic being such a profanity to her mind. My point was and remains that if at some future point it does begin to delaminate, and supposing your painting is historically significant or at least beloved of its owner, that's what art conservators are for! Seems hubristic to think one's art will last so long. I suspect it's the wrong motivation for making art.

        Ian_Adkins since acrylics have only been around 60 years it’s hard to say how long they will last - but 60 years seems plenty long enough for me. My husband made the point about its longevity and how it may not last for 100 years. I told him: 100 years? I’ll be dead what do I care?
        Like you said if someone really loves it they will find a way to preserve it.

          Yep.. I live in a fire zone so everything may only last a season depending on how bad things get. If my stuff lasts more than a few years, I'm good with it. Its only "stuff" so enjoy working with somewhat transitory materials like acrylic and pastels along with the more permanent things like oils. I sincerely doubt Rembrandt or Monet or the rest were painting with hundreds of years in mind. They were painting to make a paycheck so they could eat and survive until they sold the next painting. I make my art for me.. it makes me happy when I paint or draw it and I like looking at it afterwards. Good enough for me 😃

          19 days later

          On this subject, I have been getting what I'd consider lower up to mid grade canvases. All are stretched and double primed (supposedly). When the paintings dry, the canvas seems looser. I have put some in frames and hung them up but the picture wobbles around if air hits it. Is this normal? I'm pretty new to painting, but my expectations were that the canvas would stay tight.

          HappyLittleCloud Yes, canvas can slacken. Some canvases come with little wood spacers you can use to tighten the cradle bars, or you can probably pick up a separate packet at your art supplies supplier of choice. I understand there are even some patent plastic gizmos that claim to get even better results.

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