{"id":13551,"date":"2024-05-16T10:40:37","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T14:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/?p=13551"},"modified":"2024-05-16T10:40:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T14:40:41","slug":"sinking-in-canvases","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2024\/05\/sinking-in-canvases\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinking in (canvases)"},"content":{"rendered":"

I always try to be as efficient as possible with my paintings. But I’m also cheap. The combination of efficiency and cheapness has frequently caused me headaches. Instead of saving time and money, I’ve wasted both in my often wrong-footed efforts to save money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I prefer smooth painting surfaces but instead of buying the ultra-smooth premium linen, I often buy the much cheaper cotton. Linen is 6 – 10 times more expensive than cotton so this saves A LOT of money. But as artists know, cotton canvas is not smooth. This means I have to spend time preparing the canvas surface. I justify this extra work because I manually doctor the surfaces anyway, even on premium linen. I’ve yet to see a “professionally primed” surface that suits me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more<\/span>Cleveland Museum of Art Opens Renovations<\/span><\/a><\/div>

I apply an additional layer of oil ground to get “professionally primed” linen to my liking. Cotton takes 2 – 3 layers. Each layer has to dry and then get sanded. The extra time investment typically results in an adequate painting surface. But sometimes–for whatever reason–the final surface is subpar. When this happens, I won’t recognize the problem until after I start painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On bad canvas surfaces painting becomes a chore that requires extra time to counteract the surface’s bad qualities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more<\/span>In the Studio Oct. 14 2012<\/span><\/a><\/div>

In other words, to save a buck, I waste my precious time manually preparing a mediocre surface that actually increases painting time, which means even more wasted time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This painting, Come Along<\/em>, has one of the bad surfaces. Extra work means extra paint layers which introduces new problems such as “sinking-in.” Paintings that exhibit sinking have patches that appear dull and lifeless–the “sunk” parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more<\/span>Smooth Move—Smooth Painting Surfaces<\/span><\/a><\/div>

To finish the painting, I applied an isolating layer of copal varnish. The isolating layer prevents new paint from sinking into earlier layers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Isolating layers is not something I invented. Indeed, many artists routinely use them regardless of whether or not they experience the sinking phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more<\/span>In the Studio—10\/28\/12<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Anyway, after the isolating varnish dried I was able to quickly finish the painting. If you want to use isolating varnish, thin the varnish with turpentine or alcohol. Mineral spirits can cloud the varnish which is to be avoided at all costs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I always try to be as efficient as possible with my paintings. But I’m also cheap. The combination of efficiency and cheapness has frequently caused me headaches. Instead of saving time and money, I’ve wasted both in my often wrong-footed efforts to save money. I prefer smooth painting surfaces but instead of buying the ultra-smooth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":13550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[446,6,24,19,113],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13551","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","category-paintings","category-shop_talk","category-studio","category-tips_tricks"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/come-along-scaled.jpg?fit=1829%2C2560&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9363,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2021\/03\/commercial-canvas\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":0},"title":"Commercial canvas","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"March 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"I spend a lot of time preparing canvases--stretching, priming, and grounding. The process works well for me but it's time-consuming. I would gladly buy commercially-prepared canvas but my experience with it has been bad. In the past, I've paid premium prices for inferior products. The art supply market is filled\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "How to"","block_context":{"text":"How to","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/how-to\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rich-canvas1.jpg?fit=800%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rich-canvas1.jpg?fit=800%2C808&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rich-canvas1.jpg?fit=800%2C808&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/rich-canvas1.jpg?fit=800%2C808&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5738,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2016\/01\/in-the-studio-12416\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":1},"title":"In the studio 1\/24\/16","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"January 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The light today, for once this winter, is good. I worked on these two paintings this morning. I finished (I think) the small (20\" x 24\"), gray study. I wrote about this painting before. It is a study for a larger treatment. I finished the to-scale drawing on a sheet\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "materials"","block_context":{"text":"materials","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/materials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/studio-2016-1-24a.jpg?fit=666%2C869&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/studio-2016-1-24a.jpg?fit=666%2C869&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/studio-2016-1-24a.jpg?fit=666%2C869&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1732,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/04\/in-the-studio-4142013\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":2},"title":"In the Studio 4\/14\/2013","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"April 14, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Some of today's work: 'Grandfather' is large by my recent standards--40\" x 60\". The drawing was transferred using a grid. When the drawing was done, I inked it, that is, I went over it with India ink. Then I\u00a0 covered the surface with an thin tone of\u00a0 raw umber and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bio"","block_context":{"text":"Bio","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/bio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"studio-4-14-2013","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/studio-4-14-2013.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":4414,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2014\/12\/bad-craftsmen-a-cautionary-tale\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":3},"title":"Bad craftsmen–a cautionary tale","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"December 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"One of my pet peeves is subpar or crappy material marketed to artists at boutique prices. I will swallow hard and pay premium prices for premium material, but too often I end up paying top-dollar for unusable junk.\u00a0The art supply market is chockablock will hucksters, con artists, and amateurs. \u00a0Many\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "materials"","block_context":{"text":"materials","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/materials\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/phantom.jpg?fit=466%2C526&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6225,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2016\/07\/preparing-canvases\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":4},"title":"Preparing canvases","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"July 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I spent most of the day drawing, getting two new paintings ready. \u00a0This afternoon I started stretching canvases. \u00a0I plan to stretch 6. I'm a crackerjack canvas stretcher, I've done it so often, but even I can learn new tricks. \u00a0I used to put the staples on the stretcher edge\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Bio"","block_context":{"text":"Bio","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/bio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/stretchers.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/stretchers.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/stretchers.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/stretchers.jpg?fit=800%2C533&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":186,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2012\/10\/smooth-move-smooth-painting-surfaces\/","url_meta":{"origin":13551,"position":5},"title":"Smooth Move\u2014Smooth Painting Surfaces","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"October 26, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"All artists are self-taught today. It doesn't matter if you have a masters\u00a0degree or never set foot in an art school--everyone is on their own. The most important piece of painting gear my last professor had was a pair of fishing boots. His technique was to cover the studio floor\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Shop Talk"","block_context":{"text":"Shop Talk","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/shop_talk\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Gw6F-3wz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13551"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13551\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13567,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13551\/revisions\/13567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}