Q: I recently bought a roll of double oil-primed linen. After
stretching a couple of canvases, I noticed that the priming seemed a
bit thin, and I could see many pinholes of light showing through the
back of the canvas. To solve this problem, I added another layer of
gesso to the surface. Was it a mistake to apply acrylic gesso over an
oil-primed canvas? If so, can it be removed? Was the canvas
defective—and, if so, did it affect the painting process?
A: You have ruined your canvas because an oil-primed canvas
can only accept oil paints. There are two types of gesso: traditional
gesso designed for oil paint, and gesso made from acrylic-based media
for use with acrylic paint. Although oil paint can be applied to
acrylic gesso, acrylic paint will not permanently adhere to an
oil-primed canvas. The acrylic gesso will eventually peel off the
oil-primed canvas. *** Blick makes an acrylic remover that I have not
tried.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons