Well, the answer is yes!
Based on the provided reference, you absolutely can use tube colour on canvas, but as the reference states, that "yes" comes with certain conditions. The key is understanding the type of tube colour you are using and the preparation of the canvas itself.
Understanding Tube Colours and Canvas Compatibility
"Tube colour" is a broad term. It typically refers to paints packaged in tubes, which can include:
- Acrylic Paints: Very common and designed for use on canvas.
- Oil Paints: Also very common and specifically made for canvas.
- Watercolour Paints: Traditionally used on paper, but can be used on specially prepared canvas.
The reference specifically mentions "watercolor painting on some canvas, pads and boards especially formulated with a gesso designed for all water-based paints". This highlights that while some tube colours are standard for canvas (like acrylics and oils), others (like watercolors) require a specific canvas type or preparation.
Canvas Preparation: The Key Condition
For most paints, especially water-based ones like watercolour, canvas needs proper preparation. This usually involves applying a ground or primer.
Priming Your Canvas
- Gesso: This is the most common primer for canvas. It creates a surface that accepts paint and protects the canvas fabric.
- Standard Gesso: Suitable for acrylics and oils.
- Absorbent Gesso: Formulated for water-based paints like watercolour, creating a surface that absorbs the pigment rather than letting it run off. The reference points to canvases "especially formulated with a gesso designed for all water-based paints."
- Sizing: For oil paints, a layer of sizing (like rabbit skin glue or acrylic sizing) is often applied before gesso to protect the canvas fibres from the oil.
| Tube Colour Type | Standard Canvas (Primed with Standard Gesso) | Specially Prepared Canvas (Absorbent Gesso) |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylics | Yes | Yes (texture might differ) |
| Oils | Yes (often needs sizing first) | Not ideal (oil needs a less absorbent ground) |
| Watercolours | No (will likely lift or run) | Yes |
Using acrylic or oil tube colours on a standard gessoed canvas is common practice and requires no special formulation of the canvas itself beyond standard priming.
Using watercolour tube colours on canvas requires a canvas specifically designed for water-based paints, usually with an absorbent gesso.
Pros and Cons of Using Tube Colours on Canvas
As the reference hints, there are advantages and disadvantages depending on the paint type and canvas:
Watercolour on Specially Prepared Canvas
- Pros:
- Allows watercolourists to work on a surface other than paper.
- Provides a different texture and feel compared to paper.
- The canvas is more durable than paper and doesn't need framing behind glass.
- Cons:
- Watercolour behaves differently on canvas than on paper; washes can be harder to control.
- Pigments can lift easily even when dry on some canvas grounds.
- Requires specific, sometimes more expensive, canvas.
Acrylic/Oil on Standard Canvas
- Pros:
- Standard practice for these paint types.
- Canvas provides a classic, durable support.
- Widely available materials.
- Cons:
- Canvas needs proper priming (gesso) to prevent paint degradation or bleed-through.
- Oil paints require specific handling and drying times.
Practical Tips for Using Tube Colours on Canvas
- Identify Your Paint: Know whether you are using acrylics, oils, watercolors, etc.
- Check Your Canvas: Is it pre-primed? If so, what type of primer was used? Is it specifically marked for water-based paints?
- Prepare if Needed: If the canvas isn't suitable for your chosen paint, apply the appropriate primer (e.g., absorbent gesso for watercolour if it's not already done).
- Experiment: Especially with watercolour on canvas, practice on a small area first to understand how the paint behaves.
- Consider Sealing: For finished watercolour paintings on canvas, apply a protective spray varnish suitable for watermedia to protect the surface without needing glass.
In conclusion, yes, tube colours can be used on canvas, but success depends entirely on matching the paint type to the canvas preparation. Using standard tube colours like acrylics or oils on a conventionally gessoed canvas is common, while using water-based tube colours like watercolours requires a canvas with a specific, absorbent ground as mentioned in the reference.
