Canvas For Painting – Custom Size

If you love painting on cotton canvas, you’re in good company. It’s one of the most widely used surfaces in the art world. But once you’ve stretched or bought a primed cotton canvas, the next question often is: what type of paint should I use on it?

Start with the Canvas Prep

Before we talk paint, remember that most cotton canvases such as those from CanvasLot are pre-primed with acrylic gesso, making them ready to go straight out of the package. If yours isn’t primed, you’ll want to apply a few coats of acrylic gesso first. It gives paint something to bite onto and prevents colors from sinking into the fibers. A well-primed cotton canvas will handle most paint types beautifully.

Acrylic Paint: The Most Versatile All-Rounder

For most artists, acrylic paint is the go-to choice for cotton canvas. Here’s why:

• Adhesion: Acrylics bind well to the flexible, textured surface of cotton.
• Drying speed: They dry fast, letting you layer quickly without long waits.
• Flexibility: Once dry, acrylics remain flexible, meaning less cracking as the canvas expands or contracts.
• Compatibility: You can mix acrylics with gels, mediums, and even retarders for creative effects, from glazing to thick impasto.
• Beginner friendly: Easy cleanup with water and no solvents to worry about.

Acrylics are probably the best all-purpose paint for cotton canvas—reliable, expressive, and forgiving.

Oil Paint: Rich, Traditional, But Needs Care

Oil paint can also work beautifully on cotton canvas, especially if you’re after depth, luminosity, and slow drying times that support traditional techniques like blending and glazing. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Priming is essential: Oil paint needs the canvas sealed so oils don’t degrade the fibers over time. That usually means an oil-based primer or multiple layers of acrylic gesso before you begin.
• Drying time: Oils dry slowly. That’s advantageous for some styles, but it means longer waits between layers.
• Cleanup and safety: You’ll be working with solvents and traditional mediums, so good ventilation and proper cleanup matter.

If you enjoy classic painting techniques or want the richness that oils can deliver, cotton canvas can be a wonderful surface. Just treat it right first.

Other Paints You Can Try

Depending on your goals, you might explore less mainstream options:

• Gouache: Usually a water-based, opaque paint. It can be used on cotton canvas, but like watercolor, it works best if the fabric is well-primed to prevent absorbency issues.
• Water-mixable oils: These behave like traditional oils but thin with water, offering a compromise between oils and acrylics.
• Experimental media: Mixed media, casein (more brittle), or specialty paints can be used too, but they often require rigid support or special preparation.

Match Paint to Your Style

Here’s a simple way to decide:

• Fast, versatile, modern: Go with acrylics on primed cotton canvas.
• Rich, traditional effects: Use oils, but take extra care with priming.
• Experimenting or mixed media: Test your chosen paint on a small, primed canvas first to see how it behaves.

With the right prep and paint choice, cotton canvas can be a surface you love painting on, no matter your style or skill level.