How Do You Prepare Canvas For Acrylic Paint?
Even in the packaging the canvas comes in reads that the canvas has already been pre-primed, it may not be enough. It is important to prepare the canvas with primer prior to using acrylic paint. Set your piece of canvas, be it stretched canvas or a piece of canvas board, on an easel or a work surface that is out of the way. It is easier to prime the canvas piece if it is in an upright position, similar to how it sits on an easel, than to work flat. Apply a thin layer of primer. The primer of choice for most artists is gesso. There is student grade gesso for novice painters, and more professional grades for those who are used to working with this material. Allow the thin layer of gesso to dry completely. Depending on how warm the room is you are working in, you may have to let it dry over night. Be patient and do not try handling the piece of canvas before it has dried completely. Apply a second coat of primer on to the canvas once the first coat has dried completely. Again, as in step
