Q: I like the color of raw linen and the effect I get when
painting directly on it with oil colors, but I have been told that this
practice is problematic. Do I have to use primer and give up my
favorite way to paint?
A: It is not advisable to paint with oils directly on raw
canvas-either cotton or linen-because this can make the fabric brittle
as a result of the acidic nature of the linseed oil. You can, however,
get almost exactly the same effect by painting on sized canvas.