Create Your
Own Canvas Painting
Anyone can paint. It's true. It is just that most people lack confidence and, therefore, they quit too early. A painting comes into its own with the details. The easiest paint medium to use is acrylics because they are easy to work with and clean up with water. They can be thinned with water to give a watercolor effect or be used very thickly on a canvas to give an oil paint appearance. They can even be used as is, out of the bottle or tube. So, using acrylics on canvas can provide a lot of versatility.
Instructions
1. Paint your canvas with gesso, which functions like a primer to seal the canvas material. Gesso makes the canvas smooth, which allows paint to brush on evenly.
2. Choose the subject matter. Will it be scenery, a portrait or an abstract? If you are painting scenery or a portrait you might want to use a photo as a reference. The subject matter will stay constant and you won't be rushed to complete your painting.
3. Use a pencil to lightly outline the shapes in your painting on the canvas. The lines will disappear with your paint strokes.
4. Put your paints on a paint pallet or other flat plastic container. Squeeze out just the amount of paint you think you will need. Acrylics dry quickly, so don't put out too much.
5. Underpaint your creation. Use a neutral color that will blend into your painting to mark the shadows. Be aware of the direction of the light source on your subject matter.
6. Paint the basic colors of your painting, working in shadows and light from your underpainting. Use your pallet knife for lines and angles. Also use any other tool that will give particular textures. Look around your home; sometimes the most unconventional item can give an indentation or scraping that works.
7. Finish with an acrylic sealer when your canvas painting is dry. The sealer will preserve your art and make the colors appear more vibrant.
