Starting to paint on cheap canvas can ruin all desire to paint, a bit like starting to learn to play chords on a plastic toy guitar.
I usually paint on canvas and I stretch the canvas myself. I use the highest quality canvas I can get, heavy duty neutral primed linen. Although it is coated already I add three layers of gesso. I add some black and ochre acrylics to the gesso to obtain a neutral gray primer.
In this video you can see how I stretch and prepare a canvas.
Hallo Ben,
I will be attending one of your workshops in September and since I therefore wanna prepare my canvases properly I would like to know
how much black and ochre you add to your gesso ?
Thank you
Michaela
Hallo Michaela.
An off-white gray usually is good. The darker the portrait you want to paint the darker the canvas can be. If you are familiar with Photoshop: cccccc is perfect
See you in september! Kind regards. (Wir werden auch Deutsch reden stell ich mich vor.)
Ben
Hallo Ben,
I will be attending one of your workshops in September and since I therefore wanna prepare my canvases properly I would like to know
how much black and ochre you add to your gesso ?
Thank you
Michaela
Hallo Michaela.
An off-white gray usually is good. The darker the portrait you want to paint the darker the canvas can be. If you are familiar with Photoshop: cccccc is perfect
See you in september! Kind regards. (Wir werden auch Deutsch reden stell ich mich vor.)
Ben
Hallo Ben,
thank you for your fast response.
Michaela
Hallo Ben,
thank you for your fast response.
Michaela
Hi Ben, First of all I was attracted to your style and beautiful Paintings. Now I’m so grateful how much knowledge you have so kindly shared. I’m really starting from scratch in many ways ( moving back home to the U.K with 4 kids and husband to follow, visa issue.) Yet it also is a a decision time in regards to Art. I’ve always love portrait work and you have gien me some great tools to start trying to paint. It would be ovely oneday to see you and do a workshop though. Please if u have a momnet any thoughts on my drawings/website would be appreciated so much. Quick question the frame in the video for making the canvas, is that already made up and where or what do u suggest.
Kind regards Sarah Madsen
Hi Sarah. Sorry for answering you late. I am packing suitcases for Holland. The frames I use to stretch the canvas is a standard one. And I think it is the same all over the world. Maybe in different sizes.
Best.
Ben
Hi Ben, First of all I was attracted to your style and beautiful Paintings. Now I’m so grateful how much knowledge you have so kindly shared. I’m really starting from scratch in many ways ( moving back home to the U.K with 4 kids and husband to follow, visa issue.) Yet it also is a a decision time in regards to Art. I’ve always love portrait work and you have gien me some great tools to start trying to paint. It would be ovely oneday to see you and do a workshop though. Please if u have a momnet any thoughts on my drawings/website would be appreciated so much. Quick question the frame in the video for making the canvas, is that already made up and where or what do u suggest.
Kind regards Sarah Madsen
Hi Sarah. Sorry for answering you late. I am packing suitcases for Holland. The frames I use to stretch the canvas is a standard one. And I think it is the same all over the world. Maybe in different sizes.
Best.
Ben
Hola Ben,
Después del Gesso pintas directamente o hay que lijar? Cuántas capas de Gesso aplicas? ¿Nos recomiendas alguna marca en especial?
Muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos.
Saludos
Hola Maria.
Yo pongo tres capas. Puedes lijar un poco después cada capa. Cualquier maraca de Gesso es buena.
Suerte.
Ben
Hola Ben,
Después del Gesso pintas directamente o hay que lijar? Cuántas capas de Gesso aplicas? ¿Nos recomiendas alguna marca en especial?
Muchas gracias por compartir tus conocimientos.
Saludos
Hola Maria.
Yo pongo tres capas. Puedes lijar un poco después cada capa. Cualquier maraca de Gesso es buena.
Suerte.
Ben
Hi Ben,
I know you must have been asked this a million times but I’ve been trying to work out from the video’s I purchased what brand canvas you use in those demonstrations (Little Boy and Little Girl). If you could let me know via email or on here I would be most grateful.
Hope you have a wonderful Xmas and New Year,
Kind Regards,
Sam
Hi Sam
I use neutral primed double canvas. I don’t know the name in english, but double means that it consists in two layers. That is only for the sturdy. Neutral primed means I can add some layers of water based gesso primer. The secret is the number of layers of gesso. I apply usually 3 layers.
Kind regards.
Ben
Thanks for the reply Ben. Do you sand the canvas between coats of Gesso normally?, and how thick do you lay on the Gesso?, in your “Portrait Of A Little Boy” the canvas weave has completely gone in parts. Is this normal practice to work on quite a smooth surface?. The DVD’s have been a wealth of information to me and I would thoroughly recommend them to everyone!.
Kind Regards,
Sam
I sand between the layers of gesso. It is better to dilute the gesso with a little bit of water. I like the woven texture of the canvas, but others like it as smooth as possible. Ben