Help stretching a canvas.?

Question

A simple question. I have put the canvas fabric onto the stretcher. Do I really need to paint white vinyl coating? Or any coating? Cause I don't have any.

Can I paint acrylic paint on the canvas without it?

Answer 1

You do not need to put a gesso on the canvas. I know many artist who never prime their canvases, especially when they paint with acrylic. The only thing gesso will add is a consistent ground for you to work on that will help you control the detail on the painting better.

If you use a lot of paint in a lot of layers you are doing the same damned thing gesso would have done, as most gessos are acrylic based now anyway.

There are no real rules in painting. If you are just starting out, gesso will help you develop more control with your paint, but a lack of gesso may lead to a better feeling of spontaneity in your art. Do what you want, experiment and have fun.

---Ricky Hansing

Answer 2

Once you have the canvas stretched the gesso serves two purposes. The primary purpose is to fill in the woof and the warp of the cloth.
For the work you are doing it would be well if you took some (acrylic) titanium white with a dab of ochre mixed in it to take away the brightness of the white and dilute the mix with water. The dilution should have the viscosity of that of syrup. Spread this across the whole of your canvas if not to fill the woof and warp of the weave but to shrink the canvas on the stretcher at least. That will tighten up the surface you are painting on.

Answer 3

The paint may eventually flake off or dull without a coating. I suggest just using some white Gesso. It's really inexpensive and it works great.

Answer 4

You should use gesso.

But this works almost as well: treat your canvas with diluted paint with a drop of detergent. Really rub it in. It should come through the other side. Let it dry completely. On top of that you do one layer of undiluted paint.

Now you are set to paint.