Re: applying gesso on unstretched canvas: question 96 by Ilia Anossov on 10/26/00 at 3:00 AM
Re: applying gesso on unstretched canvas: question

In Reply to: applying gesso on unstretched canvas: question posted by liz on 10/26/00 at 12:45 AM:

If it is ok to do what I'm doing, how do I avoid the wrinkled sides of canvas?

It is OK. I do it all the time while painting large murals - after the mural is complieted I simply glue it to the wall like a wallpaper. The largest I have done is 50feet long by 12feet wide - had no wrinckles.

However you still have to "stretch" it, here is what you do:

Staple some plastic slightly bigger than the size of your canvas on the wall, if you want to work from the easel than take the piece of plywood and staple the plastic on it - otherwise canvas will stick to the wall - some gesso will seep through). Staple the canvas over, stretching it a little so it does not sag.
Put the first coat of gesso and let it dry - if you don't let it dry it will wrinckle. Put the second coat.
You are done. Thats it.

For oil painting (not mural) you can get more sophisticated/traditional and skip gesso by sizing canvas with gelatine and priming with white led sanding between coats.
For mural use water based "kilz" from homedepot - commercial gesso is overpriced while doing the same thing.

Ilia Anossov
fresco painter, sculptor
www.truefresco.com



Follow Ups:


Post a Followup 94,96"> Ilia Anossov"> fresco_truefresco.comRe: applying gesso on unstretched canvas: question_10/26/00 at 3:00"Re: applying gesso on unstretched canvas: question"
: If it is ok to do what I'm doing, how do I avoid the wrinkled sides of canvas? : It is OK. I do it all the time while painting large murals - after the mural is complieted I simply glue it to the wall like a wallpaper. The largest I have done is 50feet long by 12feet wide - had no wrinckles. : However you still have to "stretch" it, here is what you doStaple some plastic slightly bigger than the size of your canvas on the wall, if you want to work from the easel than take the piece of plywood and staple the plastic on it - otherwise canvas will stick to the wall - some gesso will seep through). Staple the canvas over, stretching it a little so it does not sag. : Put the first coat of gesso and let it dry - if you don't let it dry it will wrinckle. Put the second coat. : You are done. Thats it. : For oil painting (not mural) you can get more sophisticated/traditional and skip gesso by sizing canvas with gelatine and priming with white led sanding between coats. : For mural use water based "kilz" from homedepot - commercial gesso is overpriced while doing the same thing. : Ilia Anossov : fresco painter, sculptor : www.truefresco.com

 
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