Yes, you can paint watercolor on canvas, but it typically requires preparing the canvas with a special ground.
While watercolor paints are traditionally used on paper, applying them directly to untreated canvas isn't ideal because the canvas's absorbency and texture can cause the watercolor to bleed unevenly and lack vibrancy.
Here's a breakdown:
- The Challenge: Raw canvas is too absorbent for watercolor. The paint soaks in rapidly, making blending difficult and resulting in a dull, faded appearance.
- The Solution: Watercolor Ground: The key is to apply a watercolor ground to the canvas first. This ground creates a surface that mimics the properties of watercolor paper, allowing the paint to sit on top and retain its brilliance.
- Types of Watercolor Ground: These grounds are available in various forms, including liquid, spray, and paste. They can be applied to canvas, paper, hardboard, wood panels, and even non-absorbent surfaces.
- Application: Apply the watercolor ground according to the manufacturer's instructions. Usually, multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat. Let it dry completely before painting.
- Alternatives to Watercolor Ground: While watercolor ground is the most popular option, some artists use gesso (a traditional primer for acrylic and oil paints) followed by multiple layers of absorbent ground. Note that gesso alone won't work well because it is designed for acrylics and oils.
Using watercolor ground opens up exciting possibilities for watercolor artists who want to work on a larger scale or explore different textures than traditional paper provides.
