How to White Coat a Canvas Fabric
The white base of the canvas is the primer to which the paint is applied. It is called gesso and can be found at an art supply store in various sized containers depending on how much is needed for the project at hand. Gesso can be oil based or acrylic based. Acrylic based gesso is the most commonly used because oil paints and acrylic paints will adhere to its surface and it dries very quickly. Most pre-stretched canvases at an art supply store come with the primer already applied, but making your own canvases can be quite cost effective. Applying the gesso primer is fairly easy to do.
- Untreated stretched canvas
- Acrylic gesso
- 2-inch paintbrush
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Instructions
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1
Set the stretched canvas on an easel or the ground if it is fairly large.
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2
Apply the gesso to the canvas with the paintbrush using even strokes. Depending on the size of the canvas, a larger paintbrush can be used.
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3
Allow to dry and check for areas that are too thinly coated.
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4
Touch up any areas that appear too thin. An even surface is ideal for the finished art project to look its best.