Hello! I have a question that has been bothering me for a long time. I recently started painting on canvas. I paint with acrylic paints. Shortly after the paint dries, I notice that it has cracked, and gradually the whole picture cracks. How can I prevent this cracking? Isn't it one of the paints, or maybe I should smear the canvas with something before I paint on it? Thank you in advance!
Answers 4
The canvases are primed before painting on them. Do you stretch them yourself or do you buy them ready-made? If you take them stretched, there is probably a primer on them, but if you stretch them, you have to put them yourself. Cracking can be due to several factors. Poor quality paint can cause it, do not save money if you want good results. Layering the paint, always wait for the bottom layer to dry nicely and then lay the next on top. If you are a beginner, I guess you dilute the acrylic with a lot of water, which can also cause cracking or spillage of paint. Acrylic paints in general may not dilute at all, their consistency allows this, but it all depends on your style of painting, if you dilute them, it should be with a little water. I can think of these reasons at the moment, but I would advise you to try oil paints.
Thanks number 1! The canvases I buy are stretched and passed 3 times with primer. Paints are not one of the cheapest, maybe it's because I add water to them. And I've recently started to think that for canvas, maybe oil paints are a better option. If you have suggestions for good oil paints (I was left with the impression that you also paint or at least you are more familiar than myself) I will be happy to share them with me! Thanks again and congratulations.
From number 1 Yes, I am an artist and I have been painting on canvases for a long time. I assumed you were a beginner, because in the beginning I had paint on the canvas and I was wondering where I was wrong. It turned out to me that I put too much turpentine on oil paints. I will never forget how I started to paint a portrait and at some point I decided to smoke a cigarette to die, I slowed down a bit and when I came back everything was spilled, even the tripod had paint. It happened that a picture that had already dried cracked, but I was in a hurry to finish it and did not wait for the layers to dry. I recommended oil because it has many advantages, even the fact that it dries quite slowly, because that's how you have time to redo. I use different brands, undoubtedly some of the best are "Van Gogh", but they are quite expensive. If you are from Sofia, visit the bookstore of "Shipka" 6, it has everything you need and you will receive adequate service. I think they also had a website that you can check out. Don't limit yourself to one material you've already tried with acrylic, try butter, dry and oil pastels too. When you master them, you can mix them into one picture and you get great results. It is important to try different styles to build your own and stand out.
Hello, I recently painted with oil on canvas and I have several successful attempts, but in my last painting, after 3 weeks of drying, the paint cracked. The canvases I use are primed and factory-made, but I add another coat of primer, just in case. I use linseed oil as a thinner, and I wonder if diluting the paint with it doesn't make this mistake? Thank you in advance for your cooperation!