Comments on: How can I make “canvases” reusing or recycling stuff?

By: Karmae

Karmae — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:12:57 +0000

Sheets of used sandpaper make wonder surfaces to paint on. The texture is really interesting.

By: twinks

twinks — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 13:45:35 +0000

Out of desperation in a frantic fit of creativity I used medium cotton over a stretcher frame and gessoed it, worked fine, the painting is now over 10 years old and still holdiing up fine. Considering that it is doubtful that my humble works will ever need to survive more than my lifetime, simple solutions work just as well.

By: Junk Jeweller

Junk Jeweller — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:29:04 +0000

Have you thought of using recycled stuff as decoration? If your rooms have picture rails (or rafters) you can make artwork without a canvas: put a broom handle through the arms of a kimono and suspend from each end of the broom handle. Or suspend just about any other interesting flattish object (old advertising signs, etc.) Or use old maps, wrapping paper, reproductions of catalogues from 1800s etc as wallpaper…

If you live anywhere near a newspaper printing plant: they used to give away/sell cheaply their “end rolls” — very large rolls of newsprint (without printing on!) Flimsy paper and no texture but lots of room to express oneself and again, it is possible to tack one end to a broom handle and then attach that to the wall…

Hope these are useful! Have fun!

By: Kara

Kara — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:03:37 +0000

It really depends what look you’re going for. People have painted on everything from burlap to velvet to chiffon, but of course it doesn’t look like fine art canvases and mounting chiffon is not fun. You might consider picking up unloved paintings at a thrift store or tag sale for cheap and painting over them. A local painter picks up old giveaway canvas tote bags to paint on, although she usually keeps them as bags.

By: Bobbie

Bobbie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:34:50 +0000

Congratulations on your new home. I know you must be full of excitement and ideas. A fun place to be :)

Masonite has been a standard painting surface for a long time, also wood but I think you should use hard wood. I don’t know why denim wouldn’t work, or any heavy canvas type material. It should be prepped with gesso which will make a good lasting paint surface. Temporary works could be painted on almost anything; cardboard, poster board, etc.