artists_logo.gif Artist's Marketplacee
  Your interactive artists' community
Monday, December 01, 2008 Register | Login
     
 
Artists Network
Forums > Join the Discussion > Tech Talk
Subject: Reuse Canvas - Messed up Oil Painting

You are not authorized to post a reply.   
Author Messages
pcilley
Posts:4
07/12/2006 6:19 AM Alert 
I am new to oil painting and wonder if I can reuse stretched canvas. Originally I gessoed - 2 coats - then just jumped right in with the oil. Now I have a big disaster. I'd really like to start from scratch on the same canvas - can anyone help? Do I gesso again? Or need to sand down the exisiting oil paint? Or is it just easier to go buy a new canvas (I'm hoping this is not the answer because I have a feeling this is going to happen a LOT!). Is there a point when there is just too much paint/too many layers on the canvas and the canvas can't be saved?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your help!
studemobile
Posts:13
07/26/2006 2:07 PM Alert 
One of the advantages of oil paint is the ability to scrape off a mistake and repaint. If the whole thing needs to be redone you will need to set it aside of as long as it takes to dry, then re-gesso with an oilbased gesso or oilbase primer then after dry a waterbased gesso.
Take my advise with a grain of salt because I am an acrylic painter. You really need the advise of an oil painter (maybe the oil forum?)
Starrpoint
Posts:186
07/27/2006 1:23 PM Alert 
If the paint is not dry, trying to wipe it off. If it is dry, sand smooth and either use oil-bases gesso, or a wash of white oil paint.

Many of the old masters, and 19th and 20th century artist did this, reused canvases they were unhappy with.

If the paint has a lot of texture, than sanding is necessary. wipe with a tack cloth to remove any lose pieces.

many a lost painting has been found under a newer painting.
Starrpoint*

www.tschantz.myexpose.com
Artisticangel77

Posts:14
10/21/2006 12:18 PM Alert 
I agree with starpoint what ive done in the past many many times is gesso the old painting over with two coats then i sand because most of my paintings have a little texture then i wipe it down and apply another coat of gesso and then start my new painting. Its work for me so far I got this info from an artist friend of mine thats worked with oils for more years than ive been living so i figured it was good advice.
"Live like it's your last day, Love like it's your first, and Work like you don't need a job."

www.tampaartist.com/angelbutterfly
cynbar
Posts:2
10/24/2006 8:28 PM Alert 
My only caution to re-using canvas is that you must use an oil based primer (vs. acrylic gesso) to cover your old painting.  I often forgo covering the canvas with white and just sand the old painting down and then scrub in a new color to tone over the canvas.  A translucent color works best to allow the "old colors" to shine through and enhance the new painting.

Then, there are times when a canvas is cursed and needs to be put out of its misery (and mine) by giving it to the Trashman.
Ultramaureen
Posts:1
12/26/2006 1:14 PM Alert 
Hi, I use my old ruined canvases - at least the small ones - for trying out different techniques and experimenting. I just painted over with a mix of leftover paints, it came out a weird gray/brown. then once it dried, I used it for learning to paint with a palette knife. the result isn't something I'll ever offer for sale, but it gave me the freedom to experiment. I didn't have any pressure to make a "masterpiece", because the canvas was already ruined, so I really had fun smearing paint around in big thick globs. when I have a brand new canvas, I tend to play it safe, and want it to end up to be something I would show someone - I'm trying to overcome that fear of wasting expensive canvases & paint!
Like you, I am a beginner, been painting about a year and a half.
rghirardi
Posts:6
12/27/2006 1:40 PM Alert 
An oil based ground over the painting is the way to go.  Another alternative, which might sound weird, is to remove the canvas from the stretchers and re-stretch with the unpainted side on top.  Probably, you'll have to apply gesso to the new side, but you'll have new smooth surface to paint on.  I'm not sure whether the canvas will be able to 'breath' properly and whether the paint will be able to dry entirely.  But, since you're starting out and anticipate doing  some paintings over, the archival factor may not be important to you.
Starrpoint
Posts:186
12/27/2006 3:51 PM Alert 

Sure, go ahead.

If the paint is not dry, just scrape it off, and make sure the surface is smooth. If it has dried, sand it smooth.

You can give it a coat of what paint, if you have strong colors under it.

Don't use an acrylic gesso again. It is not nec., and it could peel latter.
Starrpoint*

www.tschantz.myexpose.com
Krytin
Posts:8
03/12/2007 2:36 AM Alert 
lol I love what Ultramaureen said. That's exactly what I do. I find all kinds of weird uses for screwed up paintings. I have one that I use just for breaking in new brushes. I beat em to death on the old canvas until they stop shedding.

Never thought about what Rghirardi said. Would work after removing some of the heavy stuff on the other side I suppose.

As for the others, sanding and gesso work, then I give em to my niece. I'm teaching her to paint and it saves me a buck.
klippie

Posts:1880
03/13/2007 12:09 AM Alert 
I just sand them, because I work with texture and paint over because sometimes it gives an interresting texture/colour to start on.

Retha
If at first you dont succeed.........don't ever give up!
klippie

Posts:1880
03/13/2007 12:11 AM Alert 
Just like this one W.I.P. on an used canvas also oils.





If at first you dont succeed.........don't ever give up!
Kim
Posts:451
03/14/2007 1:52 PM Alert 

I totally relate to the concerns of waste, practice, etc. but I recall advice given to me from my last instructor when I inquired about reusing a canvas - healthwise, it's not worth it (inhalation of toxic pigments from the sanding of old paint).  I must have cleaned out my emails because I couldn't find what he said, but I did find information regarding the safety of art materials.  For those of you interested, this website provides a lot of valuable information - definitely worth thinking about.  I hope it helps.  ~Kim   http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/artsafety/sec10.htm
portraitcreations
Posts:1
04/04/2007 8:24 AM Alert 

I've taught oil painting since 1979.  The very best thing I've found for completely renewing a painted canvas surface is "Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner."  Take the painting outside, protect the ground from the concentrated spray, and generously spray the surface.  The oven cleaner must be the type that contains lye (sodium hydroxide), which most heavy duty ones do.  Don't go for the "fume free" as they won't work.  After it sits for a while, gently scrub it with a brush or scotch-brite pad and rinse.  You may need to apply a second coat or more, depending on the thickness of the paint.  When thoroughly finished and rinsed, neutralize the surface with a mild vinegar solution, and re-rinse.  Some of the darkest pigment may stay behind, but a light new gesso coat should make it good as new!  Gesso, assuming the type you used is acrylic based, as most of them are, will not be affected by the oven cleaner, which simply removes the oil.  Some of the gesso might be removed by scrubbing, however, so retreating is recommended.

Before I learned this trick, I had sanded my canvasses, but with long-term disastrous results.  One time the gesso overheated and cracked, where I was trying to repair a flaw on a small section.  No amount of repainting covered the underlying cracks.  Another painting I had completely removed by sanding, and then repainted it, but the sanded canvas had a slick surface, and several years later the painting started peeling badly.  It had to be destroyed.

Good luck!
eerkes

Posts:20
06/30/2007 3:09 AM Alert 
I've recycled a lot of canvases. At some point, there is just too much paint on it, and you should just remove the canvas from the wood frame, and restaple new canvas onto it. I buy natural unbleached canvas from the fabric store, and re- canvas old paintings that people sell in garage sales. If their isn't much texture, you can just gesso over them, but when it comes to texture and brush strokes, I just remove the old canvas. Seems to be a cheaper way to obtain canvases than buying new premade ones from Michael's or wherever. Hope this helps.
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Forums > Join the Discussion > Tech Talk > Reuse Canvas - Messed up Oil Painting


ActiveForums 3.6