For any serious hobbyist, painting is among the best of them all. It is a fantastic way to vent out one’s creativity and emotions. If you come from a sketchbook and watercolor background, painting on canvas can be a very different experience. Finding the right acrylic paint for black canvas wall art that is easy to use, looks good, and dries fast is not easy. However, finding a suitable canvas can be even more challenging. Painting on canvas has numerous advantages over paper artwork. It is more durable, ensuring your pieces outlast you. Let’s focus on the types of canvas and acrylic paints.
The best types of canvas
Centuries ago, most oil paintings were achieved on uniquely prepared wooden panels. These panels created a rigid surface on which the artist could craft his pieces. However, the rigidity comes with a disadvantage – the canvas could easily crack and warp because of environmental factors. Canvas paintings done on the wooden panels were also hard to transport because of their weight. With time, lighter stretched canvas became the preferred choice of surface for painting.
Today, the majority of affordable canvases are made from cotton that is pre-primed with acrylic gesso. The most expensive canvases for black canvas wall art are made from linen. If you have an unlimited budget for your art tools, some art shops offer custom canvas-making services. These canvases are usually very long-lasting but will cost you a lot.
When selecting canvases for your paintings, you should keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Linen offers the most superior surface because of its subtle finish and increased strength compared to conventional cotton.
For beginners in oil painting who don’t want to waste money as they learn, cotton canvases are great for experimentation. Furthermore, cheaper cotton canvases can be enhanced by re-priming using oil primers.
Priming a canvas surface
Priming supports using wide priming brushes such as C Robersons. This priming technique gives your black canvas wall art a smooth even finish. It is essential to start from one side of the support and work horizontally throughout the support’s surface. Only work in one direction, then later allow the body to dry first.
After the surface dries, the artist should turn the support through 90 degrees. Repeat the process, but this time work against the brushstrokes of the first coating. After this second coating dries, you can repeat the procedure if required.
What to consider when buying acrylic paints for canvas
When selecting the best paints for your black canvas wall art, consider acrylics, which contain a binder and a pigment for polymer emulsion. Acrylics dry much faster than oil-based paints and offer increased flexibility after they dry out.
Acrylic comes in two flavors: student-grade vs. artist-grade. The student-grade paints contain more filler than pigment. This means that the range of colors available will also be limited. Student-grade paints are cheaper, allowing practice and experimentation.
Artist-grade acrylic paints contain more pigment and result in brighter and more vibrant finishes. Artist-grade acrylics also come in a larger variety of colors, making them more expensive. Some of the colors in an artist-grade acrylic set cost more than others because they contain expensive pigments such as cadmium.
Conclusion
When selecting the most appropriate canvas for your black canvas wall art, your personal preference and artistic goals determine your steps. It is also worthwhile to decide early on if you prefer student-grade or artist-grade acrylic paints for your purposes.
