The Ultimate Guide to Art Canvases

Some of the most popular art paintings such as The Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Starry Night and The Birth of Venus, all have something in common – they were painted on canvas. Canvas has been present since the 14th century but has become commonly used only in the 16th century. Soon it became the most widely used painting surface across the globe and it remains the most popular among artists. It offers versatility like no other art medium, it’s durable and the quality it provides is hard to beat.

What Is Canvas?

Canvas is a woven sturdy and durable fabric that is used for various purposes but the most popular use of canvas is for painting. The fabric can be made from cotton, linen or hemp, and is stretched over a wooden frame to support the surface for painting. Canvases vary in textures and depending on the material they can have smooth or coarse surfaces.

To prevent colours from leaking through the surface and touching the fibres which can eventually lead to the canvas breaking down, the canvas surface is coated with gesso. It ensures smooth application without the risk of decay of the canvas. Canvas has become the staple of many interior decors, offering a wide range of styling possibilities and can revamp even the most plain-looking wall in your house.

Types of Canvases

Most canvases come primed, which makes it easier for the paint to hold on and stay rigid when applied on the surface, preventing the canvas from absorbing too much colour. Priming helps the colours to stay vibrant and prevents the material from developing sagging patches. If you’re looking to buy art canvases in Australia, you’re bound to find a wide range of the best-primed canvases of the finest quality. Here are the most common types.

Stretched Canvas

Stretched canvases have already been pre-stretched and are ready to use without additional stretching at home. It’s a convenient option for those who cannot stretch the canvas themselves. The surface is stretched over a wooden frame and this is done to prevent damage to your artwork by keeping the canvas surface intact. They are mostly made of cotton, but they can also be linen or sometimes blended canvases. When you choose one, keep in mind that they can be primed for either acrylic or oil painting, so it’s important to choose the right one for your artwork.

Panels

If you’re on a budget, but still want to experience the pleasure of painting on canvas, then panels are just the right option for you. They are also perfect for beginners who want to start practising their painting skills with oil and acrylic colours or mixed media. Panels are most commonly made from cotton and the fabric is wrapped over a rigid board. Panels are flat and sturdy, lightweight and easily portable. They are relatively inexpensive in comparison to stretched canvases, and although panels have a shorter lifespan, they still make a great choice for beginners and students who need to practise.

However, if you’re looking for a quality surface for your masterpiece that will decorate your wall for years ahead, then you should opt for stretched canvases.

Pads

Canvas pads are a booklet of sheets of primed canvas. They are extremely good for beginners and students since they are very affordable, perfect for experimenting and creating little tiny paintings. What’s more, these pads are versatile and work well with oil and acrylic colours as well as mixed media. Use canvas pads to practise all of your ideas and master your painting skills.

Canvas rolls

Canvas rolls are unstretched, customizable canvases made from linen, cotton or synthetic fibres and can be primed or unprimed. If you are an artist who wants to work on a large surface or wants to stretch the canvas yourself, canvas rolls are an economical option that offers several benefits. You can buy a canvas roll of your preferred size and use it for oil and acrylic painting or mixed media.

They come in different textures and fibres, perfect for large paintings and are super flexible when it comes to storage. You can easily roll them up and tuck them in a corner where it does not take up much space. Another reason why canvas rolls are good is the easy transportation. They are lightweight, can easily be transported to any place without any hassle and are especially convenient when preparing for art exhibitions.

What Is Canvas Made of?

The most commonly used fabric in canvases is cotton and linen, or it can be a synthetic fabric. However, cotton and linen remain to be the best options, offering much higher quality than synthetic ones. There is a lot of debate about whether cotton or linen is better for canvas painting. Both fabrics are great and offer nearly the same quality, however, some differences between them might be crucial for the type of work you want to do.

Cotton is quite an affordable fabric and therefore is mostly used in the manufacture of canvases. Cotton is less prone to breaking due to its soft fibres and the ability to stretch very easily. It has a more textured weaved finish and is great for those who prefer a surface with a more tooth to it. Cotton can be also stretched as tight as a linen canvas, however, it can be too soft for large paintings which require sturdier fabrics such as linen.

Linen, on the other hand, is a bit on the pricier side but offers impeccable quality and durability. Linen is a robust fabric that is resistant to decay, thus, preventing the sagging of the canvas. The wave of the linen is finer and offers a smoother texture for painting. That’s why linen canvas is often used for painting portraits because it’s much easier to paint intricate details.

What Colours Can I Use for Painting on Canvas?

You can use both acrylic and oil paintings on a canvas. While acrylics dry faster, they don’t tend to last as long as oil paintings, because they are water-soluble. On the other hand, oil paintings may take longer to dry, but are much longer lasting. However, there are also acrylic and oil-primed canvases suitable for either one or the other colouring media, offering the best possible results.

When it comes to using watercolours on a canvas, the best is to use them on a watercolour canvas. These canvases are specially formulated to sustain water-based paints, designed to absorb the colour just as well as watercolour paper. Although you can also paint with watercolours on a regular canvas, the painting doesn’t have the same quality as the watercolour canvas. Other colours you can use to paint on a canvas are gouache, tempera, and oil pastels.

Can I Draw on Canvas?

Simply answered, yes. The best drawing mediums for canvas are charcoal or graphite. You can use them to draw sketches before you start painting. If you want strong lines that won’t move or mix with painting, use graphite. To prevent the charcoal from mixing with the painting, be sure to remove any excess of charcoal after sketching.

Why Do Many Artists Use Wooden Panels for Painting?

A wooden panel is a wooden board and many artists prefer this art surface over a regular canvas for several reasons:

• Easy transportation
• If primed properly, wooden panels are archival, meaning, they are extremely durable and can last much longer than regular canvases
• They offer quite a smooth texture and are great for layering and blending colours to achieve a glossy, shimmery effect when positioned at certain angles
• If you make a mistake, the paint can easily be removed before it starts to dry
• They don’t break nor sag like regular canvases
• Wooden panels come in different shapes and sizes, from small and large to rectangular or square and round-shaped boards.

Why Are Canvases So Popular?

Canvas offers a unique texture that other art mediums cannot provide. They add a dimension and depth to the art. Canvases make a huge difference in the consistency of the paint, the effect and the overall quality of the painting. They are much more enjoyable to work with than other materials, supporting various painting methods and are perfect for creating a professional masterpiece.

Their versatility and transportability are other benefits that make them so popular. You can stretch them, roll them, tuck them in, ship them to different places and still stay intact. They come in so many different sizes and shapes, so if you’re looking for art canvases Australia wide, you should be able to easily find the option that works for you best. Finally, canvas allows you to have better control over your art and it’s hands down the best thing you can come across when it comes to professional painting.