For a still life, portrait study or small series of paintings, this Royal & Langnickel Essentials canvas provides a white, pre-primed painting ground. The 100% cotton canvas is already stretched over a wooden frame 1.6 cm deep and coated with acrylic primer. You can start with acrylics or oils without mounting loose canvas yourself. You receive one canvas in your chosen size. Paint and brushes are needed separately.
Choose a size for your composition
- 20.3 × 25.4 cm, 8 × 10 inches: compact for an individual study or small painting.
- 25.4 × 30.5 cm, 10 × 12 inches: an intermediate size for a portrait or simple still life.
- 30.5 × 40.6 cm, 12 × 16 inches: more room for several objects or a landscape composition.
- 35.6 × 45.7 cm, 14 × 18 inches: the largest size in this selection, for a broader composition.
All four are rectangular and can be used in portrait or landscape orientation. Centimetre sizes are rounded conversions from the inch measurements. When choosing a decorative frame, check the size and clearance for the 1.6 cm deep stretcher; these are not standard A-series sizes.
Paint on the acrylic ground
Use the white ground for light areas, or begin with a coloured ground using paint suited to your subsequent painting technique. With a new paint or heavily diluted mixture, try a small area first to judge coverage and brush feel. Let layers dry according to your paint's instructions before continuing. This primed canvas is a painting support; for watercolour on an absorbent surface, choose a support intended for that purpose.
Edges and working setup
The edges are free of visible staples. You can carry the composition around the sides or finish them separately. Decide which edge will be the top before painting, especially when planning several canvases side by side. Use matching sizes for a series of colour or composition comparisons.
Storage and handling
Hold the canvas by its wooden frame and avoid pressing on the painting surface. Position wet work for drying so nothing touches the paint. Store unused canvases clean and dry to keep dust and marks off the white ground.
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