Prepping My Canvas

Sometimes when it comes to painting, it can be a little overwhelming and you don’t always know where to start. Well there’s no place like the very beginning to begin…prepping your canvas.

With acrylic pouring, paint goes everywhere! It can be quite messy business. So I learned pretty quickly to tape off the backside of my canvas so that once the paint is dry, I can quickly peel off the tape and reveal a lovely, clean, white canvas. This makes the painting look more clean and professional. I utilize Frogtape. It’s simply the best for keeping that crisp clean line.

Next, I use large push pins I got on Amazon to lift my canvas off of my work surface. The pins lift the canvas roughly an inch and a half, which is really helpful as I tilt and paint runs off onto my work surface. Nothing worse than putting down the canvas onto wet paint and messing up the composition! Some artists that practice acrylic pouring utilize cups, but I find I quite the push pins since they are always stable as they are put straight into the wood of the canvas itself.

My next step is to add another layer of gesso to my canvas. So when canvases are stretched and prepared, they do add a layer of gesso which acts as the primer. I find, however, that adding another layer really smooths out the canvas and really sets the stage for my paint to look its best. I utilize a sponge paint brush, the cheapy ones that are quite inexpensive. I just spread a thin layer over the entire canvas and use the sponge to smooth it out and minimize brush strokes. The gesso dries quite quickly, so it’s easy to do this step the same day as your paint pour. Just make sure it is dry before starting your pour.

Finally, I quickly spray the back of the canvas with a hint of water to ensure the canvas will stay tight as the paint goes on and dries. Don’t spray too much, no need to drench it in water, just a little spritz will do.

From there, you’re ready to go! Time to do your paint pour, stretch, and enjoy the results!

I’m a Commissioned Artist!

I was commissioned for 6 paintings to start for a hallway in a hotel project in Montana. What an amazing opportunity! As a new artist, finally pursuing my dream, you can imagine all the crazy things running through my head. Can I do this? Will they like what I come up with? Where do I store all of these paintings in my tiny condo? But more than those doubts, I felt an overwhelming glee with the realization I am a real artist getting paid to do what I love.

So to date I’m completed 3 paintings, and my client is thrilled. I’m actually doing it! With each painting I get a little less nervous and a little more confident. I want to pursue this dream to the absolute limits, and I’m excited to see where this journey leads me.

So let’s start with discussing the first piece I completed for this project. My client asked for a series of 24x36 paintings. This was straightaway the second largest painting I had completed in this style to date. Not at all intimidating, right? But I put my doubts aside, and went for it. Mixed my paints, utilized my new favorite pouring medium, MIX, and went in three straight pours.

Stretching 3 straight pour puddles of paint is quite the task on such a large canvas. But I methodically rolled the paint around in a circular motion to try and get close to the edges without losing any paint. Then comes the moment of truth, committing to a composition , and tipping off the corners and really going for it. I was so pleased with the final painting. The lines are absolutely incredible! The colors held true and have lovely separation while playing off one another for a nice peaceful feel.

I got further encouragement when my client loved it. Phew! Knocked one out! I’m living my dream one painting at a time.