As you can imagine, there are lots of different canvas size choices for a painting. After spending 2 weeks drawing and painting from the same model, I finally experienced the “A-ha” moment, allowing me to decide on a canvas size: 16 inches high and 20 inches wide.
I had bought some cotton canvas some months ago, and I decided to prepare it for this project. I know it’s a lot easier to make use of already prepared canvas and all, but I do enjoy building every aspect of my project. For this particular job, I built a frame which allowed me to stretch the canvas so I can apply gesso.
There are so many materials to choose from when preparing canvases. One can spend considerable amount of time going through various options. For me, the most important aspect of canvas preparation for oil painting is to ensure 3 things:
- Smooth surface – I like little to no texture on my canvas
- Low oil paint penetration – There is nothing enjoyable about painting on a surface that soaks up oil paint.
- Portable – Whatever the size, it needs to fit through NYC subway.
I look forward to continue working on this painting next week.