Hello, my name is Chrystalla, and today I'm going to share with you some of my tips for creating a smooth canvas surface for your next oil or acrylic painting. I have an Integrated Master in Fine and Applied Arts, and what I'm going to share with you today is something I learned from Mr. Kastritsis, one of my favorite professors at university!
So let's skip the fluff and get right to work.
1. Start by gathering up all of your tools
For this priming that's perfect for both oil and acrylic paintings you will need:
PVA ( Polyvinyl acetate, commonly known as wood glue, white glue, carpenter's glue, school glue, or Elmer's glue in the US, is a widely available adhesive used for porous materials like wood, paper, and cloth. ) Now you got the idea.
Stucco powder
A bowl
Water
A big brush
Your canvas
2. Use the right mixing ratio
Yes, you heard me right; if you don't want to end up with a -rock-like mixture, keep reading! So the proper ratio to have a perfect primer is 1 part fluid ingredient : 2 parts solid ingredients. To begin, add 2 cups of stucco powder in a mixing bowl with enough water to produce a smooth paste. Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then add 1 cup of PVA. Mix everything together and give it a nice spin to get a solid primer paste. And you are DONE!!
3. Apply at least 2 layers on your canvas
Apply two layers of paste the minimum to get the most out of it. Also make sure to apply it all different directions to achieve the perfect coverage of the canvas pores. P.s If you try any techniques to get it to dry faster than it can naturally, the paste will not make a nice painting surface in the end. So sit back patiently and enjoy !
Leave me a comment if you liked these kind of tips!