Canvas Paper/Pads

I've found a fabulous oil painting support to practice on.  It's canvas paper/pads.  I have quite a bit of experience with the Canson Canva-Paper as this has been my primary support for several small studies.  I've purchased the 12x16 pad size and cut the sheets down to size:  5x7s and 8x10s.  I can actually use a cutting board to cleanly cut the sheets of paper.  Any odd-sized shape scraps are used for documenting colors used in a painting so I can re-create the colors at a later time.  I also use them to paint test colors I mix before committing them to the real painting.


This Canson Canva-Paper is fairly stiff (136 lb paper) and has "the look and feel" of cotton canvas imprinted on the paper.  I like using this paper because of the stiffness and once I've completed a painting I can leave it on a display easel without the paper sagging or curling.

Before I start to paint, I mount the Canva-Paper on a hardboard.  Any firm/stiff board can be used for the backing.  To keep the paper from moving around, I tape the paper down using blue painter's tape.  This tape also helps where I can freely paint to the edges and not get any paint on the hardboard backing.  As you can see, I've used this painter's tape before on another painting project.  I just turned the tape around so the clean side is touching the new project.  

After a few days and when the painting is dry to touch, I gently peel off the blue tape.  I can then leave the painting on a display easel to dry further.  

Another "canvas pad" that I've purchased, but not have used yet is Fredrix.  I can't call this paper as it actually feels like true cotton canvas.  When I lifted the first sheet on the pad, it felt like cloth.  The sheets are not stiff, but flexible.  I guess I should not have been that surprised as the word "paper" is not mentioned/advertised on the pad.  Instead, it reads "genuine artist canvas".  I purchased a huge 16x20 pad at my local Michael's (w/coupon) and had to literally hand cut a canvas sheet down to four 8x10s.  Sharp scissors worked nicely.  

I'm undecided how I'm going to mount this canvas before I start to paint on it.  I've heard other artists use a hardboard (e.g. 8x10) and glue the canvas to the board.  I may have to try that.  This Fredrix Canvas Pad will be a good alternative to use after I graduate from using the canvas paper.

Here's paper cutter similar to the one I use to cut my Canson Canva-Paper:  

Learning to Look at Other Paintings

While I feel comfortable with painting my objects, I do feel a bit uncomfortable painting the backgrounds.  Most likely from lack of experience.  When I used to paint with water colors, I never learned to paint backgrounds.  The focus was to paint the objects.  When I do sketches and drawings, again, I'm drawing objects.

While visiting local art galleries and perusing through paintings on the Internet, I've been making mental notes of backgrounds.  What makes sense (highlights, colors, values, etc) and what doesn't to me.

Before I start my future paintings, I need to start planning and visualizing in my mind how the object and the background will play together.  What colors will I be using and will there be any highlights and shadows.  After I paint/sketch my rough outlines, I need to start painting the background first and then paint my objects.  Mental notes I need to remind myself to do.


Note:  I did receive my supplies from Jerry's and it arrived around lunch time!  Sweet!