When Jeremy Casson isn’t restoring and conserving priceless works of arts, he enjoys creating his own art through the mediums of paint and pottery. This article will provide pointers and tips for painting on canvass for the first time.

For beginner painters, mastering a few fundamentals can help avoid disasters and get them off to the best possible start. Painting on canvas is an age-old tradition that became popular during the Italian Renaissance in the 1600s, although the practice’s true origins lie two centuries earlier, in the 1400s.

Before the artist sets to work, the canvas needs to be primed. This essentially involves applying a layer of material to create a smooth barrier between the canvas and paint. Priming the canvas enables it to grip the paint, ensuring the canvas stays rigid and usable as it becomes saturated and helping to keep the colour pigments bright. Most canvases are sold pre-primed today to save painters time and inconvenience, enabling them to start painting straight away.

One element of painting on canvas that new artists often overlook is the small pack of wooden wedges supplied with each canvas. Although these are often discarded, they are actually very important. These wedges are designed to be hammered into the holes on the internal corners of the canvas to create tension in the canvas surface. Painting on a taut surface is integral to good brushstroke control. It is advisable to invest in a rubber mallet for knocking the wedges in to avoid damaging the stretcher bars.

The two most common paint types used by artists are oil paint and acrylic point. Painting with oils can be intimidating for the uninitiated, but the pay-off can be astounding, helping to create incredibly lifelike artwork that leaps off the page. When working with oils, it is important to take note of the ingredients contained in the paints. Although most oil paints contain natural, non-toxic materials, many also contain solvents, and some contain turpentine. Solvents and turpentine are highly flammable, so it is important to work in an area that is well ventilated and far from any sources of ignition.

Acrylic paints are a popular choice among beginner painters since they dry much more quickly than oils. They can be used either direct from the tube or thinned with water, culminating in a finish similar to watercolour. Acrylic paints are an incredibly versatile and vibrant medium that adhere better using brushes with synthetic bristles rather than softer brushes.

By using wide strokes, the artist will cover a much larger area and be able to create more texture. For example, wide strokes can be used to create a background, for water, to fill in the sky or to add mountains. Thinner brush strokes, on the other hand, are appropriate for small areas and adding detail.

When painting on canvas, the possibilities are endless. The artist could opt to paint a portrait working from a photograph or with a patient sitter, capturing their likeness in this centuries-old tradition. They may paint from memory, taking inspiration from the masters, painting an abstract portrait in the style of Picasso. Alternatively, they may prefer the surrealism of Frida Kahlo or the dark broodiness of Francis Bacon.

Still life is a popular subject in art classes and is an excellent option for beginners painting on canvas. Arranging different textures and colours and positioning the light source to form an interesting composition helps artists to get the most from still life. Landscapes are also popular, as is abstract, enabling artists to experiment with colours, shapes and paint. When drying a piece at the end of the painting session, it is crucial for artists to ensure they store the canvas in a safe and dry place, beyond the reach of small children and curious pets and well away from any heat or water sources.