What prompted me to make 1:6 canvases?
That’s simple: I need them for character development!
- Raven, one of the characters in my upcoming photostories is artistic, and very moody & emo–and I want to have some scenes where she is painting or discussing it with another student. I can’t do that without the following:
- a few canvases that she’s working on.
- an easel (I’ve tried painting without an easel and it is the most frustrating thing in the world)
I started working on the canvases last week. I wanted to make them gallery profile (thicker in profile) rather than the el cheapo 1/2 or 3/4 of an inch width that are fairly prevalent…mostly because I like the gallery profile more and it’s my personal preference when I am actually painting in 1:1 with oils.
So, here’s the start of the canvases:
*I know next time to use the other, more tightly woven cotton.
About the construction:
If I’d had my way, I’d have mitre cut the stretcher pieces. However, my hand sawing isn’t accurate enough to ensure that it would be 100% fit. That’s really important for the canvas, so I went another route. I used a butt joint instead for the frames.
After that I attached the “canvas” or cotton muslin. Linen would be better, but the only linen I have on hand is for a 1:1 bodice lining, and the weave is too large for 1:6 canvas. If I make any in the future with linen I will see about ordering some of the handkerchief weight irish linen. That linen’s expensive tho, so it’d be a ways off.
Once I had the canvas attached to the stretcher I applied the first coat of gesso. Because of the cotton I used I actually had to give it 2 coats before I could sand it. After the 3rd coat I sanded again, and again after the 4th coat. You can continue to do this until the canvas has the texture or smoothness desired. (these canvases could have used another few coats & further sanding but I lost patience and just wanted them done!)
“finished” canvases:
Now…. to make the easel! 
(either an H-type or the boring ol’ A-type)
2 Responses to “Making Canvases… art supplies 1:6”
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Hoo! Lookin good. When you said that they need to be in a tighter weave, you could tell originally, but when the gesso is on… it’s not as obvious. I think they’ll work just fine! :3
Thanks, yea..I guess it’s not as obvious once it’s been gessoed. Still, next time…well, when I have more money for supplies at least–I’d like to try the finer woven stuff.