Make Your Perfect Surface with Esté MacLeod
You buy a bunch of fresh new canvas. Unwrap them all in a pile of potential. Now you’re ready to go.
But not so fast. Artist Esté MacLeod, Ep.17, says let’s make sure this surface is one you actually want to paint on.
You don’t have to take exactly what they give you at the art store. With gesso and gel mediums, you can take that surface and transform it a number of ways. This is what MacLeod does before she begins painting.
Many of the canvases you buy in a store will be a canvas fabric plus a thin gesso painted on top of it. That has a particular brush feel and will create a particular texture in your painting.
If you like that, change nothing. But if you don’t like it, you have options.
Put it to Practice:
Acrylic acrylics gessos and gels give you endless options when it comes to creating a surface you want.
The main question to ask yourself is about the texture. Mainly, do you want more or less of it?
If you’d like less texture, try good old gesso. You can add a layer or two (letting it dry in between) to a canvas to give it less tooth. Plus it softens the plastic feeling that most inexpensive fresh-from-the-store canvas have.
If you’re looking for more texture, turn to your gel mediums. MacLeod preps many of her canvases with pumice gel. This will give you more texture and grit for your brush or palette knife.
If you like the feel and look of your fresh canvas, you don’t have to change anything. But if you don’t love it, you’ve got options.