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Original poster

Painting with acylics, - Stretched Canvas

23 replies

KurriKurri · 28/05/2012 22:55

I've been doing some acrylic paintings on stretched canvas boards, they come with a little pack of flat wooden things attached to the back of the board - does anyone know what these are for?, - I assume they are something to do with framing but can't work out how you use them.

Also - if you were displaying a painting on stretched canvas in an exhibition, would you frame it or just attach string to the back and hang it as it is?

TIA

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CuriousMama · 28/05/2012 22:57

Those wooden things are for stretching it if needed. I've never used them.

You don't normally frame them. I put mine up with a small nail in the wall and hang on that so you don't see it.

Am sure someone will come along soon with more advice?

Original poster

KurriKurri · 28/05/2012 23:05

Oh thank you CuriousMama - that's a mystery solved ( I doubt I'll use them either, the canvas doesn't seem to be loose)

I hope I can get away with not framing, - as I think that would be a bit complicated. I think they look fine without frames. Do you paint the edges of your boards? - I've gone over the edge a bit with the paint on mine and I think I need to neaten them up.

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CuriousMama · 28/05/2012 23:07

Yes I was told by a pro it's best to paint over the edges. I was at an exhibition recently and the ones who had painted over looked much better.

What are you painting? I've started doing flowers. I tended towards landscapes but am trying to get out of my comfort zone. Even doing animals, mainly birds. I try with watercolour too but it's a difficult medium. With acrylic you can go over it

CuriousMama · 28/05/2012 23:08

Just realised one of my paintings is still on my profile if you want a peek? I did it for a friend's mum.

Original poster

KurriKurri · 28/05/2012 23:17

Those poppies are gorgeous CuriousMama, you're very talented

I mostly do pastels - oil and chalk, but I've just started doing one or two acrylics - as you say you can go over mistakes! I can't get to grips with watercolours, I'm not a delicate enough painter - I just make a mess when I try.

I paint all sorts - some landscapes, animals and birds, and more recently I've started doing some people too, - the one I'm putting in the exhibition is from an old photo I found of DH as a toddler sledging with his Dad

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CuriousMama · 28/05/2012 23:24

People wow, wish I could manage them. I did try but the pastel portrait I did of dcs made them look like the children from Flowers in the attic

Thanks, I did enjoy doing those poppies. She liked them too. I did sunflowers for her as well.

I hope you post some of yours?

Original poster

KurriKurri · 28/05/2012 23:28

I'll try - but I'll have to get DH to photograph them and he's engrossed in some war programme on the TV atm, - I'll see if I can get him to do it tomorrow (just as long as you don't expect anything brilliant )

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CuriousMama · 29/05/2012 12:23

Oh good looking forward to that Do you have a camera phone? That's what I use.

Original poster

KurriKurri · 29/05/2012 13:14

No - I'm a terrible technophobe, my phone is the most basic thing you can get, - no camera I'm afraid

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crazynell · 29/05/2012 18:44

Kurri those little wooden things are to push into the corners of the frame if the canvas looses its tautness - they will re- stretch it. I've never used them but they're there if you need to use them.

piratecat · 29/05/2012 18:50

i had a painting on canvas in an exhibition recently and had to paint right round the edge to tidy it up. It did look better, i must admit but i did think oh for heavens sake how is this being 'arty', as i liked some of the off the canvas mistake splodges.

I mean what if Tracy Emin had been told to make the bed!!!??

crazynell · 29/05/2012 19:29

Well done piratecat for getting your painting in a exhibition. i prefer those blocky type canvases as you then don't have to frame them, i've seen where people paint the edges white - maybe with medium. I am doing a painting on canvas at the moment and it is hard for someone like me who's messy to keep the edges clean and i am getting quite conscious of my messy edges :)

piratecat · 29/05/2012 20:57

thanks! it was my first painting in yrs. just a local exhibition but it really gave me a bit of confidence.

I like the blocky canvas too. Not sure how you exhibit with the thinner canvas boards.

piratecat · 29/05/2012 20:58

i went round the edges with white acrylic, a few coats and it was fine, but take your time otherwise it can get a bit messy with the finger prints!!

CuriousMama · 29/05/2012 22:10

Ok well if he gets round to it will look forward to seeing it?

I did a really bright painting at art class today. I tried it once before but it was crap didn't turn out as I liked Much better version today, just needs finishing off. Only took just over an hour.

Original poster

KurriKurri · 31/05/2012 19:00

Sorry everyone - I've been out a lot over the last couple of days, - have managed to put a few pics. on my profile now. The shell at the end isn't finished yet - I need to do some sort of background, but haven't quite decided what to do. The sledging picture is acrylics, the rest are oil pastels.

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Original poster

KurriKurri · 31/05/2012 19:01

OOps sorry - they are underneath the seal photo on my photos.

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CuriousMama · 31/05/2012 23:58

Thanks for posting them they're great You must like colour like me? Although the latest one I did at art class is very bright. I'll put it on here when I finish it.
Do you use white spirit with the oil pastels? I've done a couple of simple paintings with oil pastels and used white spirit with a cotton bud to blend. I prefer acrylics to anything though. What's your favourite medium?

Original poster

KurriKurri · 01/06/2012 09:49

Yes - I love colour CuriousMamma - I think that's why I'm quite hooked on the oil pastels atm - the colours are lovely, I'm half way through a picture of some blue gentians which are very bright! - I'll put it up when I've finished. - Looking forward to seeing yours

I like both kinds of pastels - chalk and oil, and acrylics - although I've only recently started doing the acrylics. I do sometimes used white spirit, or some stuff called 'blending and glazing medium for oils' on the pastels - your get a nice translucent effect with it I find. But sometimes I like the textured finish you get if you just leave them as they are.

I do a bit of blending with one of those little pointed wrapped paper blending tools, - but you can't move the medium around as much as you can with chalk pastels.

I went to a talk at an art group I go to on Tuesday, by a woman who paints in acrylic inks - have you seen them? - they have beautiful colours, really vibrant, but very liquid more like a watercolour, - I'd love to have a go with them, - but as with all these things they are expensive!

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Original poster

KurriKurri · 01/06/2012 09:50

Thanks for kind words about my work

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CuriousMama · 01/06/2012 14:00

Oh my art group is (or was) on Tuesdays too. It's ended for now but it'll come back. Yes I've seen the inks some people I know are very good with them.

Looking forward to the blue gentians I haven't had time to tweak mine yet. It's soooooooo bright I copied it from a greetings card that my art teacher brought in.

Pinot · 06/06/2012 20:12

Useful thread, marking place :)

EasyToEatTiger · 09/06/2012 17:16

How lovely to see peoples' work!

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