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Re-using art supports
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Message
Posted
I mentioned on the gallery that I'd painted over something, therefore re- using the canvas. I'm doing this more often now, instead of storing. I'm able to do this with a canvas or a rigid support but I'm sure you could use gesso or acrylic over paper.
Why do I like doing it? We'll I've realised it stops me being " precious", I haven't " wasted" anything, especially a canvas....I love the feel of painting on canvas.
Also, it feels very freeing to leave the previous image there while you map out the new one. You can decide whether to leave anything to show through, that can be intriguing. If I take a photo before I start, I still have a record of what I've done.
One thing I don't do now, which I used to do in the past, is to constantly
" revisit" a painting in order to improve it. That's too constricting, like redecorating around one item in a room. Far better to start anew, also knowing that I haven't "wasted" anything. If it then goes to a new home, it might be like one of the Old Masters, with an intriguing image beneath.😆
revisit
Posted
You are not the only one, Marjorie. I have been reusing canvasses. I removed an unsuccessful painting from the gallery yesterday as I will be gessoing it today. I like to recycle things and I don’t have the space to store anymore. But in these lock down days, I have been trying to paint smaller, limiting myself to A4 most of the time.
Posted
I've re-worked acrylics now and then - a fairly safe practice, though it can be frustrating if you try to incorporate parts of an older painting into a new one; a bit like a jigsaw, with the wrong pieces.
I have also, I admit, scraped down and painted over old oils; a rather less safe practice; haven't done it often, but one of my personal favourites, a very small painting, was done on top of another. So I can't very well sell it, not being sure if one day it won't fail in some way, but on the other hand I'd rather keep it. If you're going to paint over an old oil - and many have - or have just zhooshed one up a bit, it's less likely to crack or flake off the board if it IS a board, not a stretched canvas.
Watercolour can be reworked to your heart's content - high fail-rate, but then if the picture didn't really work anyway, you've not lost anything. If nothing else, painting over old work can be a good try-out for another painting. Make sure it's YOUR old work, though, not someone else's....
Posted
A brilliant idea, Marjorie. I’ve got painted canvases leaning against the conservatory wall that I don’t particularly like anymore, but I don’t want to bin them. Leaving the original painting to let it shine through is something I’ve never attempted before. I may give this a try, but inspiration is in short supply at the moment.
Posted
Ellen, just go for it! The idea for me is to overcome the lack of inspiration. Look around the house for something which attracts - with its colour or shape or even silliness, get a large brush, turn the canvas upside down even. Perhaps work in a complimentary colour. You can always paint over it again!
Posted
Ellen, no, I didn't gesso any part. The idea for me is to not have a blank canvas. Also, it's oil. Wouldn't risk gesso on top of oil, it wouldn't adhere well, especially as I have no intention of sanding down. Gesso on top of acrylic, yes - they are both water based. You could, of course, add a layer of oil paint over the canvas if you want to hide the previous image, I've done that before but here I want to keep the image.If you are interested, here is what I did on another occasion.
I wanted to paint my grandson with his giant cactus. I sketched him first then turned a canvas around. Can you see the still life image? It's in my gallery and called " A painting of a painting"
I then slapped on a lot of orange paint, no going back now, but it was liberating! I was much happier with the final painting than I had been with the still life. My idea was also to echo David Hockney's painting " Splash" where the figure and pose is similar. Probably only I will be aware of that.
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