How to make a watercolour canvas

[@anitadavidson1266]

Many thanks Liz! I’m obviously now trawling for more gems of knowledge 👍🏻🎨👩🏻‍🎨🖌️👍🏻

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Wonderful! hope you find nuggets of gold!

[@honeybabies4476]

Where have you been all my life? Completely impressed with all of your videos.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

that’s a lovely thing to say. They aren’t the best editing etc but I hope they get the info across

[@DoubleRainbows-fp6ih]

I agree - you are so generous in what you share and teach. ☺️

[@valeriegehling4358]

Like your tips! Especially the money saving ones. And, your books. At the moment Watercolour on canvas, very good. Thanks too for all the videos on this , sketch books, bookmarks & so……much more! Like your colourful paintings too! Thanks.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad you like them! it’s my pleasure

Really a brilliant way to do it. Thank you for this video. I can’t wait to try it.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Have fun!

[@marmeesBFSL]

Loving all your instruction as a newbie painter! Thank you!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@babyruth225]

I like the subtle music! Your tutorials are great too !

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad you like them!

[@eugedelima4166]

Wow~ didn't know that this existed~ amazing I've always wondered if this could be possible ~ Thanks for the video!!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes, it’s an exciting way of working

[@jazzman1626]

So basically, the same surface used for oil painting can be painted on with watercolour?

[@marilynfranks8995]

I can't believe I didn't find you earlier because I love your work! feel bad about not searching harder. I am going to try your method on canvas.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad you found me! I plan to do more this year but I’m in the middle of a big project!

[@Dawnasy]

Thank you ! these step by step instructions are so helpful;) love your arT!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

So glad you find it helpful!

[@stephenwilson8078]

Hi Liz, Thank you for this... it is soooo refreshing for me that I can understand what you are saying. A lot of U tube videos have people that are speaking English with an accent or they are speaking so fast that I can’t catch what they are saying. You speak beautifully, and I love your work. Thank you💖🌸

[@LizChadertonStudio]

that’s so nice to hear. I thought I spoke too slow for KZbin!

[@tate4783]

Turn on the closed captions. I have issues sometimes too - apd. The cc in the corner. 🥰 I didn’t need them for any of her videos though.

[@mjpete27]

I recently purchased a large roll of watercolor paper, I am having trouble stretching it! I believe I will go to a stretcher bar solution and just cut the edge off! I was shooting for a 48 inch x 48 inch surface. Well I can see I might have better luck with a canvas with homemade watercolor ground! Thanks Liz!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

just be aware that paper and canvas will be different. Bith a great surface to work on, but definitely not the same. that sounds like a huge piece of paper. What weight is it?

[@CooksandCravings]

Hey liz can I use gesso instead of watercolor ground?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Some artists paint directly on gesso. It will not be as absorbent as watercolour ground, so will behave differently

[@CooksandCravings]

@@LizChadertonStudio Thank you so much❤️

[@zitaarty401]

Hi Liz, I just subscribed to your channel, thank you for all detailed information, what is the watercolor ground? ❤❤❤

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I make my own from 3 parts gesso to one part modelling paste, but Daniel Smith, Schmincke and OoR make them too

[@AussieKrazyK]

What grade sand paper would you use?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

just a medium/fine and only a very light sanding

[@Gustoberg]

I just painted my first canvas... with china ink! And a huge part of wash ink painting is... WASH, a whole lotta water! So I did the best thing to do, I just kept going and stubborned my way to painting this, it wasn't bad for literally my first canvas AND using one of the worst inks and techniques possible for canvas! Glad to know there is a way to not activelly fight the canvas lol

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I love ink on canvas! keep going

[@XoXoNurseKy]

Miss Liz, once finished, would you still wax seal this canvas?

[@MrGylsen]

Hello thanks for the advice for watercolour painting, were do you buy the watercolour ground from as I haven’t heard this before, thanks

[@LizChadertonStudio]

What country are you in? Either make it, as per the recipe or Schmincke, QoR or Daniel Smith make it.

[@MrGylsen]

Based in the UK, Thanks Liz

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@MrGylsen in that case the ones I listed are your options. Jackson’s , Ken Bromley, Great Art, SAA are the usual suspects… I’m running a watercolour on canvas workshop in Berkshire 11 Nov and have 2 spaces left, if you are anywhere near!

[@kathleenthompson1569]

I'm glad you explained what the pieces of wood (stretchers) were for. Are you using a sponge roller?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes, small sponge roller

[@rta3738]

Can you cover the tray and roller so you can use the same mixture for all three layers? Similar to painting walls in your house. Thanks

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Yes you can! I just wrap them in a plastic bag or use cling film in between coats. saves washing up and waste.

[@erikajosa21]

Very helpful thanks you 🙏🏻

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it helped

[@bikergirl2006]

Hi!! How much time to dry in between each coat?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Just till touch dry - depends on your climate - about an hour. 24 hours at the end.

[@bikergirl2006]

@@LizChadertonStudio Thank you so much! I have been enjoying your videos!😊

[@stephenb7533]

Do you wipe dust off after rubbing down with ‘ sticky’ / tack’ clothe before next coat applied?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes, I would remove dust before the next coat but just a quick wipe over with either a dry or barely damp cloth

[@milkar3441]

Thank youu! This helped me very muchh!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it helped!

[@SuperTuhla]

Could I use just regular Jesso?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

No. Ordinary gesso is unlikely to be absorbent enough. There are exceptions and some gesso’s are more absorbent than others eg Sennelier gesso. You can always try and hope you are lucky. But adding the modelling paste increases the absorbency which is what you need for watercolour.

[@SuperTuhla]

@@LizChadertonStudio thank you so much!!

[@Pebblesmas]

Thx 4 yet another brilliant video, thx so much!! (PS love your "recycling remark👍), a question: why don't you clean the Canvas off the dust of the standing of the Canvas?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question

[@Pebblesmas]

@@LizChadertonStudio well not important, i was just wandering.. When you coat the Canvas the first time, you let it try, and than sand it, after the standing i don't see you wiping the standing dust away, before you give it a second coat, just wandered if the little bit of dust should not be wiped away with a cloth, or something else... Not important..

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@Pebblesmas aha! You can blow off the dust or wipe it away or just leave it and do the next coat. It’s not much and very fine 😊

[@ameliabrandon7654]

I just bought a canvas that says it’s specifically for watercolor. Would I need to prepare that canvas like you did here?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

no, if it’s a watercolour canvas it is all ready for you. You will need to seal it at the end

[@bluskyz7398]

Question from a beginner - if you're putting ground on to make the canvas more like paper, why not just use paper?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Because canvas can be displayed unframed, not behind glass, comes in sizes larger than standard paper and it produces a lovely (but different) surface to paper. Plus it’s fun to experiment!

[@bluskyz7398]

@@LizChadertonStudio Great, thank you!

[@rebeccaferrier4666]

what type of roller brush are you using to apply the ground? and what type of roller - soft, etc. Thank you

[@LizChadertonStudio]

just a small household one for doing walls. it’s foam and you want one which will leave as little mark as possible.

[@naomimatchatis3394]

What is watercolor ground ?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

watercolour ground is a special primer you can put on pretty much anything so you can then put watercolour on it. it makes different surfaces like canvas, behave more like paper.

[@mytubebookface]

Once the watercolor is dry can you paint with oil on top?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Regretfully I do not use oil so I cannot advise you

[@bettyboop425]

Working through all of your videos - already learnt lots. With the grounds do you add water? Daniel Smiths looks much thicker! Thanks

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You can add 10% water to a ground, to help with flow, levelling or if it’s drying too quickly. Or if it’s a part used pot which is getting a bit thick. If you are getting brush marks you don’t want, I’d add a little and mix well.

[@bettyboop425]

@@LizChadertonStudio Thank you Liz thats so helpful. Ive had a couple of pots for a while and not really known what to do with them.

[@studio_guing]

Thank you Liz. what is the difference of just using a gesso?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Absorption. Most gesso isn’t absorbent enough to behave like paper.

[@groovyyaya737]

Ground what? What is it?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

The film explains what ground is. Watercolour ground is like absorbent gesso and you can put it on most surfaces so you can use watercolour on them. Great fun!

[@caroltribou3408]

Please tell me what brand of watercolor ground you used in this video? Thanks!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

From memory, this was homemade ground from gesso and modelling paste, but it was 2 years ago!

[@caroltribou3408]

@@LizChadertonStudio thanks. I’ve been reading your book today and trying to decide which way to go. For now, limiting it to daniel smith, qor, or golden…. The roller you used looks easy and smooth.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@caroltribou3408 I like DS, if you have a choice. The roller was just a mini decorating roller, from B&Q if I recall.

[@caroltribou3408]

@@LizChadertonStudio thank you!

[@triciabennetts6578]

Thankyou so much for this Liz - so helpful 🙂 Do you need to sand between each layer of ground and then again at the end?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

That’s optional. If you want a smooth surface with little canvas texture, you can sand as you say. If you want it to be more ‘canvasy’, then don’t. Have fun

[@triciabennetts6578]

@@LizChadertonStudio Thankyou Liz 🙂

[@fammue]

Hello Liz, thank you very much for this helpful video. I was wondering what difference it makes with the behaviour of watercolors if you prepare it this way vs. just painting on a canvas directly. Thank you again and have a blessed Christmas! Ps: your art is beautiful. 😊😍

[@LizChadertonStudio]

The ground helps the canvas become slightly absorbent, so it behaves a little more like paper. If you paint on naked canvas it repels the water. If you use watercolour straight out of the tube on an unprepared canvas you won’t notice the difference. As soon as you add water you will!

[@fammue]

@@LizChadertonStudio I see, thank you very much! :-)

[@MelanCholy2001]

@@LizChadertonStudio > *"...straight out of the tube on an unprepared canvas you won’t notice the difference. As soon as you add water you will!"* 😂 YEP! I had no idea how much harder wc was than oil. The temptation to hit the (older, unused) canvases after a few months of wc (HUGE gift for covid furloughed me) because of pilling... I considered stretching a SHIRT to get the (decent) wc paints on. A SHIRT. _I digress, I'm going to get the hang of wc paints but the temptation..._ So glad there's a method to successfully prep a plain canvas to "take" water 😂 You are lovely!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@MelanCholy2001 I never saw this comment until today. How did you get on??

[@majorbuttkiss172]

​@LizChadertonArt is it absolutely necessary to "prime" the canvas ground???

[@BarbaraChichester]

Liz, what happens to the watercolor grounds in between various coats. ii.e., does it harden, can you rewet and reuse? I am a novice, have never used watercolor grounds. Than you

[@LizChadertonStudio]

It dries and hardens. It takes about an hour to touch dry, but at the end leave it 24-48 hours to 'cure'. It will not rewet once dry. So wash brushes and yourself before it dries!!!

[@julieloweryForyouministry1226]

Is that Gesso?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

No, it is watercolour ground - slightly different. You can make your own by adding one part modelling paste to three parts gesso or buy from Daniel Smith, Schmincke or QoR.

[@dssd245]

I need 3 36x12 canvases.. How much ground will I need?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

It depends how thick your layers are, is your canvas deep edge or thin and how many layers you put on. I am guessing this is inches not cm… I’ve just done 3 15 ins canvases from a 4oz pot, so for three thin layers on 3 canvases of that size about 10 oz. This is VERY approximate!

[@dssd245]

@@LizChadertonStudio was it you that made your own out of 3parts Mess0 and 1 part modeling paste? Do you know if that recipe works as well.. it’s way cheaper

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@dssd245 yes it was and yes, it is way cheaper

[@dssd245]

@@LizChadertonStudio have you ever used a projector? Someone wanted a painting fast…So I had the idea to use a projector.. it’s so easy..

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@dssd245 no I never use a projector, but lots of people do…. I like drawing too much!

[@justinestead6753]

What ground do you use

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I make my own. 3 parts gesso to one part modelling paste. Daniel Smith, Schminke and QoR make one too.

[@globalworld999]

Pl mention gesso and paste mixing ratio in video good for listeners

[@cathylathrop8104]

I’ve been putting the ground on watercolor canvas! So actually I can just use a canvas intended for oil or acrylic? I’ve tried water coloring on watercolor canvas and didn’t like it.(yes. The color seems to still sit on top) That’s when I started using the ground. It makes sense that I can put the ground on a regular canvas.( maybe buy in bulk and be less expensive too!) I have also used the ground on wood and ceramic. A lot of the other canvases say they’ve been treated with gesso etc. so what you’re saying is I can still put the watercolor ground on top of that as well. ( since ground has gesso in it?).

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Definitely. Watercolour canvases should be ready primed with ground - I have found them variable too. Just use an ordinary canvas which you would use for acrylic or oil and add the ground - three thin layers. Far cheaper and more choice on size too. They will have been primed already, but the ground goes straight on top. You will save a fortune!!!

[@cathylathrop8104]

@@LizChadertonStudio thanks again! . Can’t wait to go out and get just “ordinary” canvases and save some money!

[@cathylathrop8104]

Still putting the watercolor ground on them as well. :)

[@belindaruffa]

Thank you! 😊

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@jazzman1626]

@4:39 Just before you picked off that blob, I tried scraping it off with my fingernail 😂.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

🤣😂😂 Brilliant!

[@donnarose7545]

Can you paint the same on grounded canvas with watery acrylic

[@LizChadertonStudio]

In my opinion watered down acrylics dont have the same life and transparency as watercolour, but yes you could use them on the prepared surface.

[@latetodagame1892]

I'm looking for a cheap alternative

[@LizChadertonStudio]

A cheap alternative to what? Making your own ground is cheaper than the ready prepared and coating your own canvas is cheaper and more flexible than the ready prepped too.

[@latetodagame1892]

@@LizChadertonStudio like spraying a canvas with shirt starch?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@latetodagame1892 I'm sorry, I don't know if that would work. I would be very concerned about longevity. Because I sell my work, I need to prepare things which will last until I'm dead and they can't sue me!!

[@latetodagame1892]

@@LizChadertonStudio 🤣 I guess? I have this weird thing for the ephemeral.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@latetodagame1892 Disappearing ink????

[@Mark-fv8vt]

I've heard that watercolour works best on paper...?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

traditionally we work on paper, but with new watercolour grounds it is wonderful on canvas or wooden panels and then you don’t have to be restricted by size or framing considerations. it is different though.....

[@annewatman677]

Couldn’t you use a hair dryer to speed up drying?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

personally I wouldn’t. The danger is it will form a skin on top but not be properly dry and bonded underneath.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

yes of course!

[@petraboszegwaard]

Thank you Liz, very good explanation to get started. Only, why do you put that music on the backgrond. It spoils your tutorial. Such a pity! But thank you anyway.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

I was just getting to grips with editing the films so now I’ve worked out how to boost the voice and knock back the music. it’s all a learning curve.

[@silviaalarcon532]

What did u use plz respond need to know what to prime it with

[@LizChadertonStudio]

You need watercolour ground as I said in the film. Daniel Smith, schminke and QoR all make them. you just need to search for what you can get locally. good luck

[@phoenixheart_3595]

Can we use acrylic retarder medium as a primer On the acrylic canvas board for using watercolors on them?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Hi, I’ve never tried that. I guess the thing to do is experiment on a small cheap canvas and see if it works.

[@mama--rua]

If you sand it you have to wipe off dust

[@LizChadertonStudio]

thanks!

[@softlanding138]

Your sound is not good but your tutorial is great! Thanks!

[@LizChadertonStudio]

it’s an older film, so sound is better on the new ones

[@leighanne5201]

Please disregard my message on another video. This one popped up a few videos after! Thank you.

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Glad it popped up!

[@MaureenTomaino]

Dear Liz, Sorry to say....Your lighting is not good....shadows all over...

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Yes, there are, I left them to show the passage of time as the salt develops.

[@latetodagame1892]

@@LizChadertonStudio what does that mean, as the salt develops?

[@LizChadertonStudio]

@@latetodagame1892 I mean, that when you sprinkle salt into the wash it takes time for the beautiful patterns to show up.

[@kenhurdartist475]

Boring

[@LizChadertonStudio]

Thanks for the constructive comment 😂