Oil Painting And The Way To Prepare Supports

By Author: Anthony Keith Whitehead
Total Articles: 21
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How To Get Started
To paint in oils you need a support. The supports used for oil painting need to be properly prepared. This article considers the various ways in which such can be prepared. It discusses priming and some of the differences between various supports and the manner in which they need to be prepared.

There is quite a wide range of different kinds of supports which are used for oil painting. Canvass is the most common type, cotton being cheaper than linen, although the latter is frequently preferred by artists painting in oils. Both will need stretching over a frame, but can easily be purchased with this already done (and the surface prepared). Then there is a variety of solid supports which includes plywood, masonite (or hardboard), MDF etc.
All these have relative advantages and disadvantages, but which type you choose will depend on the kind of painting you wish to produce and your approach to oil painting. Initially you may not see the need for one type over another, but as you progress and gain experience, the relative appeals will become apparent.

The Preparation Of Supports ...
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All supports for oil painting need to be primed. If you purchase one from a retailer or artists supply shop it will already have been primed. For this, a paint known as a ground, which acts as a sealant, will have been applied If a support is not primed, the oil in the paint will be absorbed by the support and leave the paint rather powdery. Another advantage of priming is that it also gives a better surface for painting on. Some primers are oil based and in this case the support first needs at least two coats of size. Rabbitskin size should be used.
Using Acrylic
However, if you are going to use a solid support like plywood or MDF, the simplest way to prime the support is to use an acrylic primer. This is manufactured to adhere to untreated surfaces. You will need two or even three coats, but these dry very quickly – just let each one dry before applying the next. This provides a good foundation for oil painting and it leaves a “tooth”, which some artists like.

The acrylic can be sanded down to give a very smooth finish, using glass paper or emery cloth, both readily available from DIY stockists. This may take some effort because acrylic is quite tough, and a sanding machine may be handy, especially if you want to get rid of any lines the brush has left when the acrylic was applied.

The acrylic can be applied with a brush, roller or sponge. The latter two may be more preferable in order to avoid lines in the ground, although both are still likely to leave some patterning in the surface.

Always Apply Acrylic First, Oil Paint After
It is crucial to note that acrylic should never be applied over oil paint. Always apply oil paint over either an acrylic primer or, when you are actually painting a picture and want to use both acrylic and oil paint, even over a coat of acrylic paint. In the latter respect, while some artists like to use a white background, one might sometimes find it advantageous to have a coloured one. In the latter case, you can use a colour straight from the tube or mix two (or even three) acrylic colours together.

Such a surface will usually be dry in about an hour, so there is little time lost. But it often pays to think ahead when coating a support and, if you have some idea of what size support you may need for your next two or three (or four or five!) paintings, you could get then all done at once, which will tend to save on costs, time and repeated washing out of brushes or rollers.

Finally…
A newcomer to oil painting clearly needs to be aware of the various kind of supports available and their relative benefits and drawbacks. But the simplest way to get painting is to purchase a frame over which canvass (probably cotton -- but look for and avoid any with knots in the cloth) has been stretched. These are easy to obtain and some very cheap ones can often be found. Once some experience has been gained, it is always possible to investigate the possibility of doing some or all the preparatory work ones self.

AUTHOR: A K Whitehead
This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included.
This will take you to paintingsinoil.co.uk main page of original images painted by A K Whitehead.
All the paintings in oil here are by A K Whitehead, who is aself-taught artist, and are original oils and not copies. The approach is traditional, making use of various techniques, including impasto and glazing. This link will take you to the main categories of landscapes, seascapes, snowscapes, waterscapes and still life and all are provided with free frames and fastenings. Free delivery is also included within the UK.