What Happens If You Don’t Use Primer When Painting?
It’s tempting to skip primer. Yo’ve got a canvas, a wood panel, or a wall in front of you and you just want to start. Primer feels like an extra step, especially when you’re eager to paint.
But here’s the honest answer: sometimes you can get away with skipping it. Other times, you’ll regret it.
Let’s break down what actually happens when you don’t use primer.
1. The Paint Soaks In
If you’re painting on raw canvas, wood, or unsealed paper, the surface is porous. That means it absorbs moisture and binder from your paint.
With acrylics, this can make the paint dry faster than expected and appear dull or patchy. With oils, it’s more serious. Raw canvas or wood can absorb the oil from the paint, weakening the paint film over time. This can lead to cracking or deterioration years down the line.
Primer creates a barrier. Without it, the surface literally drinks your paint.
2. Poor Adhesion
Primer helps paint stick properly. When you apply paint directly onto slick surfaces like metal, plastic, or previously sealed wood, it may not bond well. You might notice peeling, flaking, or scratching more easily than expected.
Even on canvas, primer adds tooth. That slight texture helps paint grip the surface evenly.
Skipping primer can result in uneven adhesion, especially if the surface has dust, oils, or manufacturing residue.
3. Uneven Color and Coverage
Primer creates a consistent base color, usually white or neutral. Without it, the surface color influences your paint.
If you’re painting on raw wood, the grain will show through and may discolor lighter pigments. On darker surfaces, you may need extra layers to achieve opacity. That means more paint and more time.
Many painters are surprised by how much more predictable color mixing becomes once they start with a properly primed surface.
4. Reduced Longevity
From a conservation standpoint, primer matters. Oil paintings especially need a sealed ground layer to prevent oil migration into the fibers. This has been well documented in painting conservation studies. Over time, unprimed supports can become brittle or stained.
Acrylic is more forgiving, but still benefits from a sealed surface for long-term stability.
If the work is meant to last, primer is not optional.
5. When Skipping Primer Makes Sense
There are situations where artists intentionally skip primer.
Some contemporary painters work on raw canvas for a stained, absorbent look. Others want the texture of wood grain to interact with paint. In mixed media work, raw surfaces can be part of the aesthetic.
The key difference is intention. Skipping primer as an artistic choice is different from skipping it out of impatience.
A Quick Rule of Thumb
Use primer when:
- You’re working with oils
- You want consistent color and coverage
- You care about long-term durability
- The surface is porous or uneven
You might skip it when:
- You want a raw, absorbent effect
- The work is experimental or temporary
- The surface is already pre-primed
Primer isn’t glamorous and doesn’t feel creative. But it quietly supports everything that comes after. If you want control, durability, and predictable results, primer is one of the simplest ways to improve your painting process. Skipping it won’t always ruin your work, but understanding what it does lets you decide, instead of guess.