Preparing My Canvas: A Complete Solution

An informative guide on how I prepare my panels for painting.
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Created by Alex Whisson
#art #colleywhisson #oil #oilpainting #tutorial #canvas #board

[@artndimensions]

Dear Colley i love your art and I'm a brissy local too... i wanted to just suggest that its very good to add a wood sealant that you get from bunnings just a coat or 2 on both sides before you add the gesso coats... the sealant will just prevent any oil from seeping into the mdf board and making the bonds weaker over time... you just want collectors to hold on to your paintings as long as possible as your artworks are collectors choice.. . brisbane weather is absolutely horrible and moisture is unpredictable around the year so sealant will prevent the mdf from rotting

[@motlba]

Thanks for these tips!!👌

[@colleywhissonartist]

Happy to help.

[@catherinemix51]

Thank you for your help, I am signed up for a couple of your 2024 workshops. We live in a small town with no mdf/melamine available, so I bought basswood plywood. Please point me to a good video of how to prepare this material for paintings. Thank you!

[@colleywhissonartist]

Apologies for the late reply.
I’m not familiar with that product, It all depends on how smooth the surface is. If it is very flat and smooth I’d say my three step process should work. Acrylic/Latex Undercoat - Gesso - 50% water and 50% Satin Top coat acrylic/latex.

[@stevenallan6515]

😀😎

[@ghuntressart669]

Thank you, sir, for sharing your process and experience. Is the third coat a mixture of water and gesso (with a little tint) or water and acrylic paint? Thank so much 😊

[@wildmoon8862]

Yes I was wondering that also :)

[@colleywhissonartist]

It’s a mixture of 50% Acrylic/Latex Off White Tint and 50% Water.

[@rezahosseinzadehnasser993]

Thanks for your explanation. Please explain if the first coat is construction oil paint or else.

[@billrodiger7697]

Oil paint will not dry in half an hour like in the video. It will be acrylic or latex based.

[@colleywhissonartist]

All layers are water-based paint.

[@user-dd1ri7vb2c]

hi Colley, is the first and third coat using the same product ie.acrylic/latex undercoat (noting that the final coat is watered down a tad)?

[@colleywhissonartist]

The first coat is an Anti-bacterial primer and the third coat is a Satin interior Acrylic/Latex paint. Hope this helps.

[@jacklynmcintee2341]

What product do you use for your first layer on the MDF board?

[@colleywhissonartist]

It’s a Anti bacterial Acrylic/Latex Undercoat.

[@kiritsi100]

Hi Colley. I've heard that MDF won't last for more than 15 - 20 years. I hope that's not really the case. Would hate to see that. Would guess that if properly sealed like yours, shouldn't be a problem?

[@colleywhissonartist]

I believe it’s all got to do with board preparation and care of the artwork, I’ve seen Iil paintings painted on cardboard. That are over 100 years old and I’ve seen paintings on canvas that have fallen apart in under 20 years.