“When art critics get together they talk about Form and Structure and Meaning. When artists get together they talk about where you can buy cheap turpentine.”

― Pablo Picasso

Creating canvas art opens your world to others. Your work reflects how you feel, what moves you, what inspires you, what experiences you hold dear or not, and more. It’s opening up yourself to the world, and you should be prepared what the world will give back to you.

In the art world, people will say all kinds of things about your work. Some are great, some not so. Especially now that everything’s online, some anonymous person could just give negative criticism to your masterpieces and it can be annoying. These criticisms may even dampen your spirits in continuing your art. But, it shouldn’t be so.

Here are some ideas on how to handle your critics:

1. Don’t react right away. If someone criticizes your artwork, your automatic response would be to attack back. You get angry, defensive, or disturbed when you get criticism and you’ll have the urge to reply instantly. Don’t. Take a few (or more) deep breaths  and read again the comment (if the criticism is done online), or cool down first before saying your reply in person.

2. Ask some questions first. Questions like, Who is this critic? Do you know them? Are they qualified to judge your work? Are they potential buyers? Are they esteemed members of the art community? Or, are they just blabbermouths? See who are criticizing your art and get a little perspective on how they came about the criticism. Even if your critic is not qualified to judge your work, you  still have to consider what they say. If one of your goals is to get wider exposure, then selecting just a few “qualified” critics will not help you reach that goal.

3. Remember that criticism is not always about you. Keeping this in mind will help you become level-headed whenever someone criticizes your art. There are feedbacks which may even help you become better at your craft, so don’t get defensive right away. You can just think that your critic is having a bad day that’s why he overreacted in his comment to your art.

4. Think about the bigger picture. Don’t snap back every single time someone contradicts your work. Get something positive from this negative. Listen to these criticisms and over time, you will figure out a general response of the public to your art. You will see similarities on how people take your art and you’ll learn how to present yourself and your art to everyone’s advantage.

5. The real question to ask is what YOU think about your art. At the end of the day, it’s your work so the criticism worth listening to is yours. What really count are your determination, creativity, and commitment to your art.

Image source: http://hragvartanian.com/

Varnishing a canvas art may be a confusing subject among artists. Varnish serves as a protection of your painting from pollution, scratches, UV rays, and other contaminants. It also brings out the colors and brilliance of your painting.

In oil painting, varnish gives the painting the same gloss level and it protects the piece from dust and other pollution in the atmosphere. In acrylic painting, as your acrylic film is reaching the final dry state, the few evaporating water molecules leave micro-pores on the film, leaving the film tacky to the touch when fully dry. The porous acrylic film accumulates dust and dirt and the best way to protect the painting is by varnish.

A high-quality varnish offers superb quality, remove-ability, and easy and even application. Varnish a painting when it is completely dry. It takes an oil painting a minimum of six months or longer for it to fully dry, depending on the thickness of the film. For an acrylic painting, it will dry between two and a few weeks, again, depending on the thickness of the film.

Steps:

1. Check if the surface of the painting is clean. Use a lint-free cloth to gently swipe the painting and make sure that no moisture can get on the painting, brush, or the container.

2. Use a 1″ to 4″ varnishing brush. A wide brush is a must so you won’t miss any spot.

3. Place the painting flat on the table so you can varnish horizontally.

4. Dip the brush in the varnish and wipe off the excess on the lid of the container.

5. Apply a thin coat of the varnish in long, even strokes. Stroke back and forth across the painting until the varnish becomes tacky. A little varnish goes a long way. Inspect the varnish and see if there are any bubbles. If there are, even them out immediately.

6. Once you’re done in an area, leave it until you’re done varnishing all the surface of the painting. If you missed a spot, allow the varnish to dry completely and apply another coat of varnish.

7. When done, lean the painting against a wall and put a protective plastic film “tent” to protect it from dust. To test if the varnish is dry or not, touch the edge of the painting to see if it’s still tacky.

Varnish dries at different rates, depending on the weather. In cool, dry weather, varnish dries overnight, while it takes longer to dry in warm, humid weather.

Tips:

• Always varnish the painting in one go. If you varnish part-by-part, you’ll end up with lines between the parts you’ve varnished.
• Look for dust-free workplace so dust will not get into the varnish while you’re applying it.

Image source: EBSQ

Framing a canvas painting allows you to hang and display the art piece while protecting it. A frame can help your audience focus on your artwork when they are beautifully displayed in the showroom or even your home. Framing a painting on canvas can be a daunting task to many. There are lots of information out there on framing but here is a detailed way to frame a canvas art.

Materials Needed:
Go to your local art supply shop to get these materials.

• Mat – A mat should overlap the edges on the painting to serve as a border between the print and the frame, and between the print and the glazing panel. Mats are available in pre-cut form in most art supply stores but they can customize the size of the mat upon request. Mats are available in different colors and are usually 4- and 8-ply thick. I would suggest using a white mat since colored mats tend to fade.
• Backing board – A backing board should be acid-free. Use a backing board that is the same size as the outside dimensions of your mat.
• Adhesives – Use acid-free adhesives such as a brushed on adhesive or spray adhesive. You can also use a mounting film, or mounting tape.
• Glazing panel – It can be glass or acrylic. There are also plain and UV-protected panels.
• Frame – There are many frames available in your local art supply store which are made of wood, plastic, or metal.

Steps:

1. Measure the length, width, and depth of the canvas. Use these measurements when buying your framing supplies.
   
2. Draw the borders inside your backing board.
3. Apply the adhesive to the backing board.
4. Put your canvas print over the backing board, using the borders as your guide.
5. To make sure that you’ve positioned your print correctly, lightly position the mat over the print. If you are satisfied with the position, remove the mat.
6. Use a clean piece of paper and apply pressure to bond the print to the backing board. Remove the paper and check again the alignment of your print and backing board.
7. While waiting for the adhesive to set, clean your glazing panel. You can use an anti-static cloth to remove miniscule marks, oils, dust, finger prints, etc.
8. Put the glazing panel inside the frame, followed by the mat, and then the mounted print.
9. Secure the frame and canvas with the clips at the back of the frame. Most frames come with a pre-attached bracket so you can readily hang it.

Image from here.

As young artists, we are faced with lots of choices even before we start that first brush stroke. We think about the theme of our painting, what medium should we use, the size of the canvas to use, where to get inspiration, or which canvas would be perfect for our art. It could be overwhelming, especially for newbies out there who have just started in the art of painting.

There are debates on which canvas is better: linen or cotton. Here we lay down the benefits and drawbacks of using a linen or cotton canvas.

Linen

Pros
Linen is a canvas made from flax fibers. The word is derived from the Latin word “linum” which means the flax plant. Professional oil artists prefer linen canvas for its longevity and high quality. Linen is very receptive to sizing and priming applications. Sizing is a glue barrier which prevents the ground and the paint from coming in contact with the linen fibers, making it a more durable choice of canvas. A linen canvas preserves its natural oils and easily adapts to moisture changes which gives the fiber’s flexibility and helps prevent cracking over time. The linen fiber has a more natural weaved finish and is available in different textures, weights, and smooth or rough finish.

Cons
Linen canvas may be a better quality canvas and resistant to wear and tear but it is not that widely used because of its price. It is more expensive than cotton, jute, or other fibers used as canvas because producing linen is quite labor-intensive. If you’re just a student, the high price tag may turn you off. Also, you may have difficulties in priming and stretching a linen canvas but it provides the smoothest and stiffest painting surface, perfect for oil paintings. Students should avoid using a linen canvas unless their painting skills and quality of work are outstanding and are comparable to well-known artists.

Cotton

Pros
Cotton is a soft fiber from a cotton plant native to the Americas, Africa, and India. More artists choose cotton canvas because its cheaper. Since cotton is more available and has low manufacturing costs, the price of a cotton canvas is more affordable than linen. It is more flexible and easier to stretch properly, making it a popular choice among art students. It is good to know that a properly prepared cotton canvas can be as durable as a linen canvas. So, if you want to use a lasting canvas without hurting your wallets, consider a cotton canvas.

Cons
Cotton is known for its flexibility and its ability to stretch easily, but it is not advisable to use it in very large paintings since it is prone to sagging.

Before you choose a canvas, consider the medium you are using and what you want to achieve on the canvas surface. For students or hobbyists, a cotton canvas is recommended because of its practicality and affordable price.

Images are from here and here.