quick question on oil painting surfaces

[jvgig]

Can I use an gessoed (acrylic based) paper as a surface for oil painting? If so, will the paper matter? I have been using gessoed 140lbs watercolor paper (Strathmore 400) for acrylic with good results.

I am not looking for a professional quality solution but more of the equivalent to newsprint for oil.

Thanks

[Flake]

Yup.

Assuming the acrylic keeps the oil from being in contact with the paper all will be super.

[Noah Bradley]

Semi-tangential question: when one gesso's paper, is it required to staple the edges to prevent warping, or do you gesso both sides? I've never tried it, but would definitely like to try it out. Thanks.

[Elwell]

Gessoing both sides is a good idea. Thin it slightly and put on a couple of coats so it's thoroughly sealed. The surface will dry while the core of the paper is still slightly "limp," if you tape it down then it will dry perfectly flat.

[Grief]

hey elwell (or anyone that knows the answer) i was always told for stretched canvas that you do not want to gesso both sides of the surface as you'll want the back side to be open so that the canvas can 'breath', as it is prone to shift, shrink, expand, overtime as temperatures and humidity changes.

something about sealing the surface would cause problems in the long run, is there any truth to that?

[alesoun]

Not clever enough to know; but I find that if I'm painting on one side of acrylic paper, it help to keep things flat if I dampen the other side
Maybe it's a question of degree?

[Elwell]

hey elwell (or anyone that knows the answer) i was always told for stretched canvas that you do not want to gesso both sides of the surface as you'll want the back side to be open so that the canvas can 'breath', as it is prone to shift, shrink, expand, overtime as temperatures and humidity changes.

something about sealing the surface would cause problems in the long run, is there any truth to that?

Canvas is very different from paper in the way that it reacts to environmental changes, especially when it's stretched. Also, paper, even gessoed paper, generally is stored flat or framed with some sort of backing board.

[DSillustration]

Can I use an gessoed (acrylic based) paper as a surface for oil painting? If so, will the paper matter? I have been using gessoed 140lbs watercolor paper (Strathmore 400) for acrylic with good results.

I am not looking for a professional quality solution but more of the equivalent to newsprint for oil.

Thanks

jvgig,

The process you are using is just fine, and pretty archival.
In fact, if I were to paint on paper, I would be using that very same paper.
Strathmore watercolor paper is great stuff... stick with it.

Here is a pic of Adam Rex, painting in oils on watercolor paper at an "Art Out Loud" event.
I believe he fixes his drawing with Acrylic Matte Medium though rather than using gesso... though both are fine.

[jvgig]

thanks

[Phil Moss]

All my oil painting is done on watercolour paper - so the answer is yes! I use 140lb/300gsm fabriano - though I doubt it really matters too much (fabriano is cheap.. where I get it from anyway). So far I've used NOT surface, sanded down after priming, but Iv just ordered a pack of HP which Ive not tried yet - same grade of paper but should save me sanding it down.
Stretching the paper is ideal, but using tape can be hit and miss (and a pain in the arse at times!). I use paper stretchers, as here: http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/cat.php?cat_id=44 (it's a uk store, but you should find a US equivelant I presume) which keeps the paper drum tight throughout priming and painting. I'd suggest getting a qood quality stretcher as cheaper alternatives can be a bit crap (though they still do the job, they just look and feel shabby and make the whole process a bit less enjoyable).
I also use liquitex matte medium, watered down, rather than gesso. K. Kopinski taught me this one, so if he can paint what he paints on it, then there's nowt wrong with the medium .

Thats a bit long winded, but I hope it helps!