|
My tips
Linda, some of my tips.
-I always steam iron the canvas before stretching
-I found rabbitskin glue (I use the preprepared one, you just need to stand it in hot water) better than acrylic sizing. It leaves the canvas nice and stiff, while when I used the acrylic the surface was too rough and the previously taut canvas was loose and flappy.
- I am now trying acrylic priming. It can be used on raw canvas, but don't do the same mistake as me, diluting the first coat. It came through the other side. The first coat should be laid very gently to avoid this, while the next ones can be very well applied with the sides of your very own platinum visa (or any other credit card...), working on one direction each layer, until you have rached the desired tooth (no sanding required).Works very well also on sized canvas with no passing through.
-about the sides. When I size I run the knife between the stretchers and the canvas to prevent sticking. I try to size the sides but I don't completely prime them. A tutor once told me that it is nice if the priming looks like icing on a cake, but I do apply some masking tape 1 cm under the rim, so that the icing looks regular!
Hope I have been useful
Ilaria
|