CAN WATERCOLOURS BE USED ON CANVAS?

Can watercolour be used on canvas?

If you’ve ever wondered “can watercolours be used on canvas?” you’ll soon find out the answer when you give it a try! There’s nothing more frustrating than having your paints sit on the surface, slip around every time you move your brush and look dull and pale in the end. That, my friend, is what happens when you try to use watercolours on a standard primed canvas. It doesn’t work. So next time you’re at watercolour class or doing an online watercolour tutorial at home, put the canvas away and grab some watercolour paper instead.

But note that I stated watercolours don’t work on primed canvas. You see, canvas that is primed is sealed with a gesso, creating a barrier preventing the paint from absorbing into the canvas. However, unprimed canvas is a different story.

Painting watercolour onto unprimed canvas or silk

Unprimed canvas is cotton or linen fabric in its raw state, which means you technically can paint watercolour onto it. The pigments will spread and bleed into the fabric fibres which is a rather lovely effect. However if painting onto fabric tickles your fancy, I’d suggest painting onto silk. Silk painting is an art form that has been around for centuries. It’s a little more delicate than paper and a little more uncontrollable to work (unless you use borders) with but it does give a lovely effect. Some of my first watercolour paintings were painted onto silk.

Watercolour canvas

About 10 years ago, a new product hit the shelves that allowed you to paint on an absorbent layer onto any surface. Golden was the first brand to product “Absorbent Ground” and Daniel Smith “watercolour ground”

These days, watercolour canvases are readily available from most art stores. But note they ARE different to a normal canvas. These are often primed with a gesso which will largely block the watercolour pigment from being absorbed.

Stretching watercolour paper like a canvas:

You can also stretch watercolour paper like a canvas.

Instead, grab some paper. But not just any paper, watercolour paper. You see, watercolour paper is special. It’s treated with a “sizing” that makes it suitable for water-based mediums. But if that all sounds a bit technical and you’re not sure which watercolour paper to buy, don’t fret! I’ve written an extensive guide on which watercolour paper you should buy and which brands I personally use and recommend.

But there is one thing I should mention before I go on, watercolour can also be painted onto unprimed fabrics like silk. Yep, some of my first watercolour paintings were created on silk.

Now before you reach for a sheet out paper out of your printer tray, let me just emphasise I said watercolour paper. or even some silk (yep, watercolour can be painted onto unprimed fabrics like silk!). It’s a little more delicate than paper and the pigments work a little differently than on paper, but it is a lovely effect.