How to Paint on Pre-Stretched Canvas
- 1). Position your easel in a place with adequate light, and secure the pre-stretched canvas onto the easel.
- 2). Paint over the surface of your canvas with gesso to prime it. Gesso is normally thinned before use, so check on the bottle for the manufacturer's recommendations. Many pre-stretched canvases are already primed for use with both oil and acrylic paints, but check that your canvas is primed before you begin painting. Allow the gesso to dry completely before painting over it.
- 3). Experiment with paint colors to learn how to mix them. Start with a limited palette; for instance, one tube each of black, white, red, yellow, green and blue, as it is easier to start when you have fewer choices. Mix the paint on the palette with a brush, then paint it onto the canvas.