The 5 most common painting problems and how to solve them
A good painting canvas is the foundation of any work of art. Nevertheless, creases, loss of tension or a surface that is too smooth can interfere with the painting process. With the right techniques and materials, you can easily solve these problems and ensure an optimal painting experience.
This guide will help you recognize and solve common painting problems.
1. Creases in the painting canvas: how to avoid them?
Creases can interfere with the painting process and cause uneven brush strokes. This often occurs with improper stretching, temperature fluctuations, humidity or improper storage.
Solutions:
- Stretch the canvas evenly: start at the center of the sides and work toward the corners to create even tension.
- Store the fabric correctly: roll the fabric neatly and store it in a dry, stable place.
- Light creases often disappear by themselves when the canvas is stretched, but deeper creases are more difficult to repair.
At Claessens Canvas points of sale you can learn how best to stretch and store your canvas. Find the nearest point of sale via our store locator.
2. What if the painting canvas becomes loose?
When a canvas becomes slack, it is often due to changes in temperature or humidity. The canvas reacts to changes in the environment, reducing its tension.
What can you do?
Re-tensioning the canvas in a dry environment is often the quickest solution. Use skewers to tension the canvas without completely re-tensioning it. If this doesn't work, you may need to re-tension the canvas using proper techniques.
Claessens can help you further with the correct tensioning of the canvas through our tensioning service. We are also happy to advise on the correct storage of your paintings and canvases.
3. Are older canvases still usable?
Old canvases can harden over time, but are often still perfectly suitable for painting. This is especially true of oil-prepared canvases.
Solutions:
- Store older canvases properly: Roll them carefully and store them upright against a wall to slow aging.
- Re-tension: Older canvases can be more difficult to tension, but often this can be easily solved by re-tensioning the canvas using wedges.
- Adding gesso: An extra coat of gesso can help improve the condition of the canvas and make it more suitable for painting.
Store locations can provide you with advice on preserving and restoring older canvases, and help them with the proper techniques to make outdated canvases usable again. Check our store locator for a retail outlet near you.
4. Why is my oil paint not adhering well?
If you are having trouble applying oil paint to your canvas, it may be due to the preparation of the canvas itself. Oil-prepared canvases are specifically designed to allow paint to adhere optimally, but not every canvas has the right base.
The oil-prepared canvas has a carefully prepared structure that ensures the perfect adhesion of oil paints:
- Synthetic glue is used as a base, which makes the canvas resistant to humidity and temperature fluctuations.
- Oil primer is applied in multiple layers so that the paint adheres evenly and the canvas retains its flexibility.
- Pigments such as titanium white and zinc white provide an even finish that is ideal for detailed work.
These canvases offer artists the right surface for creating vibrant and detailed oil paintings. Claessens Canvas' high-quality process ensures that the canvases always meet the highest quality standards.
Curious about the process? Read more about the production of our canvases and discover why Claessens Canvas is preferred by top artists worldwide.
5. What if the canvas is too smooth?
Some artists find that their canvas is too smooth for the technique they want to use. This can make it difficult for paint to adhere properly, especially in techniques that require a rough texture.
How to fix this?
- Apply gesso: Apply an additional layer of gesso to increase the texture of the canvas. This will make the paint adhere better.
- Sanding: light sanding with pumice or sandpaper creates a rougher texture suitable for techniques such as impasto.
- Choosing paints: certain paints, such as acrylics, adhere better to a smoother canvas, while oil paints need a rougher surface.
When in doubt about which canvas best suits your technique, you can visit Claessens shopping outlets. They will advise you on which canvases best suit your painting style and technique.
Still have questions? We are at your service
Do you have any questions about painting or would you like to know more about Claessens Canvas products? Our experts are always ready to help you further.
Store points can help you further with choosing the right canvas, stretching and maintenance. They offer practical support and advise you on the best choices for your painting technique.
- Visit a retailer near you (store locator).
- Read our other frequently asked questions.
- See how other artists work with Claessens Canvas on MyClaessens.