{"id":5536,"date":"2015-10-18T16:42:22","date_gmt":"2015-10-18T20:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/?p=5536"},"modified":"2015-10-18T16:43:35","modified_gmt":"2015-10-18T20:43:35","slug":"transferring-designs-to-canvas-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2015\/10\/transferring-designs-to-canvas-update\/","title":{"rendered":"Transferring designs to canvas–update"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve written before<\/a>\u00a0about the various methods used to\u00a0transfer designs to canvas or other surfaces. There are three ways to do it: projector, grid<\/a>, or\u00a0cartoon.<\/p>\n

Typically, I use\u00a0grids. Grids can handle any scale and I like working out final design elements on the canvas grid before picking up the brush. I can\u00a0grid off a sketch and finish the drawing on the canvas. With the other methods, the drawing (or cartoon) has to be finished. \u00a0But grids are not practical for\u00a0watercolor. Unlike canvas where the grid can be covered by paint, the grid cannot be covered and must be erased from the paper instead, which can smudge or tear.<\/p>\n

I’ve used projectors in the past and was\u00a0dissatisfied with\u00a0the experience. The projector has to be aligned with the canvas just so, and any pressure on the canvas can distort or misalign\u00a0things. Because you have to draw in the dark, it’s easy to lose overall sense of the drawing. My best success with projectors was\u00a0with watercolors–small-format paper on hard, level surfaces.<\/p>\n

I hadn’t used the other method–cartoons–until recently. A cartoon is a drawing made to the exact dimension of the target surface. You\u00a0use carbon or transfer paper to\u00a0trace over the drawing. Or you can perforate the lines of the cartoon\u00a0and wipe charcoal over the cartoon’s surface, covering all the lines. The charcoal penetrates the perforations and gets\u00a0deposited on the canvas. With either method the cartoon is destroyed.<\/p>\n

If you plan to use cartoons for large canvases, the challenges are obvious. You need drawing paper and transfer paper large enough to cover the entire surface. If you have those items, then cartoons can be effective. Cartoons were (are) routinely used for murals.<\/p>\n

I recently prepared a small canvas–20′ x 24′–using a cartoon. The canvas was prepared\u00a0with a thin warm ground of raw umber. The ground cannot be too dark or the transferred drawing will not be visible. In this instance, the ground was at the outer limit of visibility–almost too dark to see the drawing.<\/p>\n

For the drawing, I used a 20″ x 24″ piece cut from a 5′ roll of drawing paper. The paper is mediocre and I don’t plan to do finished drawings with\u00a0it, but for cartoons it’s fine. After finishing the drawing, I \u00a0cut out a 20″x 24″ piece of transfer paper from a 24″ 30″ sheet.<\/p>\n

I taped the transfer paper to the canvas then taped the drawing over the transfer paper. Then I traced the drawing with a pen, pressing firmly as I worked. The drawing was transferred perfectly to the canvas. The design is pretty simple but complicated enough to be a real test of the process. I was prepared to apply\u00a0spray varnish over the drawing if needed, but the lines withstood smudging well enough.<\/p>\n

Here’s the beginning of the painting. It’s very simple, a gray griselle just to fix the drawing. The drawing is clear enough that I could have stared a more complete treatment straightaway, but I didn’t know that at the outset, and I was afraid that the drawing might get rubbed away.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The unfinished ‘Two Women Talking in Playhouse Square’ on the easel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I haven’t made up my mind about the cartoon process. I still am not sure if I will use it on large paintings but for watercolors, it’s perfect.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve written before\u00a0about the various methods used to\u00a0transfer designs to canvas or other surfaces. There are three ways to do it: projector, grid, or\u00a0cartoon. Typically, I use\u00a0grids. Grids can handle any scale and I like working out final design elements on the canvas grid before picking up the brush. I can\u00a0grid off a sketch and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":5548,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[208,24,113,1],"tags":[159,50],"class_list":["post-5536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-materials","category-shop_talk","category-tips_tricks","category-uncategorized","tag-art-supplies","tag-painting-material"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/2-women-PHS.jpg?fit=600%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1230,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/02\/transferring-designs-to-canvas\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":0},"title":"Transferring Designs to Canvas","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"February 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I routinely transfer\u00a0designs\u00a0as I rework subjects in various mediums. There are several standard methods for transferring designs to a target surface. One long-used method was to prepare a cartoon to the exact dimensions of the target wall or canvas. Once the design was fixed, it would be transferred by one\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":[]},{"id":1258,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/02\/tips-for-using-a-grid\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":1},"title":"Tips for Using a Grid","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"February 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I frequently use a grid to enlarge designs for paintings. It\u2019s my preferred method for transferring designs from one medium into another (except watercolors). What do I use to create a grid? Good question. The grid should be visible enough to see\u2014doh!\u2014and not \u00a0easily rub away, but not so visible\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":[]},{"id":9661,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2021\/07\/new-paintings\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":2},"title":"New paintings","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"July 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The painting on the floor, Arts Guild, is my newest painting. I've worked on it steadily this week. The underpainting is done and I started the first overpainting yesterday. It's 40\" x 54.\" Arts Guild is still a baby and has a long way to go before it grows up.\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\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/cancan1.jpg?fit=1200%2C865&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14222,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2026\/04\/new-study\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":3},"title":"New study","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"April 15, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I enjoyed this drawing paper so much that I completed the drawing instead of leaving it as a sketch for a painting. I'll still make a painting of the subject, but I love this Fabriano drawing paper. It's wonderful for all dy mediums, like this lead-only example. I like the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drawings"","block_context":{"text":"Drawings","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/drawings\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260415_164340.jpg?fit=895%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260415_164340.jpg?fit=895%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260415_164340.jpg?fit=895%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260415_164340.jpg?fit=895%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8085,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2018\/09\/turpentine-diaries-9-16-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":4},"title":"Turpentine diaries 9\/16\/18","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"September 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Keep Talking is scudding along; still unfinished, obviously, but it's moving closer. In this photo, Keep Talking, which is 36\" x 48\", shares the easel with a canvas I recently prepared. You can see the grid on the paper fixed to the canvas. When the drawing is finished, I'll transfer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cleveland"","block_context":{"text":"Cleveland","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/cleveland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/studio-2018-9-16.jpg?fit=800%2C1180&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/studio-2018-9-16.jpg?fit=800%2C1180&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/studio-2018-9-16.jpg?fit=800%2C1180&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/studio-2018-9-16.jpg?fit=800%2C1180&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6701,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2017\/01\/drawing-transferred-for-new-painting\/","url_meta":{"origin":5536,"position":5},"title":"Drawing transferred for new painting","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"January 31, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I worked on the drawing\/cartoon for Down on Prospect Avenue for a week. \u00a0In the top photo, I just finished tracing the cartoon, which you can see still stapled to the canvas. \u00a0I removed the transfer paper to examine the drawing. \u00a0If I miss\u00a0something, I can cover the canvas with\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\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/prospect-ave.jpg?fit=800%2C597&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2Gw6F-1ri","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5536","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=5536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5536\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}