Painting on a large or big canvases has its pleasures as well as trials. At times it could be the appeal of painting on a big surface in an undefined manner. Or sometimes it could simple be that a subject requires a big canvases. Also it could be just the ambition of wanting to paint something large and grand.
If you’re treading on intimidation when it comes to big canvases but still want to make a go at it here are some tips to help you create the perfect piece of artwork!
Subject scale for big canvases
When you are facing a large surface area on your big canvases you will need to decide you will need to make a decision based on the fact if you’re going to make the subject at the same scale as you normally would or if you’re going to paint the subject at a much larger scale than usual.
When you paint a larger subject it won’t necessary guarantee that you would be making a better painting and neither would it mean that you would have a more detailed or complex subject. You will need to set out to find the perfect balance between the size of the canvas, the subject you are painting and, of course, your painting style.
Big Canvases So Bigger Brushes
When you set out to paint on a big canvases it is the perfect opportunity to take a shot at painting with brushes larger than you would usually use to paint with. A larger brush allows you to loosen up your painting style since it is more difficult to get caught up in detail.
More Paint
The big canvases will obviously require more paint than a smaller one. If you use paint straight form the tube it is a simple case of more squeezing at more intervals. However, if mixing colors is more your thing you will need to mix a greater amount. Knowing the exact amount of mixing will come from experience.
Coping with Size
If the scale of the big canvases are overwhelming, you should divide the area into quarters and finish one section at a time as opposed to painting on the entire canvas at once. This method should also be considered if you are using acrylic paints and want to blend the colors before they dry out. Also, if your studio or painting space is small you could set up a mirror on the opposite wall. By doing that you can turn around and be able to see the entire painting as if it were from a distance.
Allowing Time
A big canvas will obviously take longer to paint than your normal sized painting. It’s not possible to say how long exactly. Just be sure to keep your patience in check. If you find that you cannot wait and find yourself getting bored you should probably stay away from the big canvases.
Transportation of Big Canvases
Once you’ve found a buyer for your finished piece of artwork or maybe have a gallery interested in wanting to show it, you will probably ask yourself how it shall get to its destination. If you are able to get it out of your studio or painting space and the destination is not that far away, you can probably hire a small delivery van or truck for transportation. However, if you can’t get it out of your door, it would be best to take the painting off of its stretchers and roll it up. Once it reaches its destination you can unroll it and put it onto its stretchers again. And there you have it!
