Materials:

panel; wood, or masonite
canvas
Size Solution for Canvas and Wood


PREPARE YOUR PANEL:

Begin by smoothing your panel or wood with fine grain sandpaper. Clean the panel with a wet cloth to remove any sandpaper dust. Be sure to place the panel in a dust-free area before beginning to apply the canvas.

Next prepare the glue solution. Please refer to Size Solution for Canvas and Wood for the mixture of your glue solution.

For the first coat, use a thin, warm glue solution with a wide brush completely covering the panel. Use enough glue solution to allow it to seep into the fibers of the wood. Cover the entire panel including the sides and back. The reason behind this is if only one side of the panel is painted the wood may curve. This applies only to panels not backed by cross-sections of wood for support. After the first coat dries (approx. 30 minutes), apply a second coat of the glue solution without thinning. To ensure the least amount of dust possible, use thumbtacks and float your panel from the floor until it dries. After the panel is thoroughly dry, polish it with very fine sandpaper.


APPLYING CANVAS TO YOUR WOOD SUPPORT:

Cut the canvas to the size of your panel allowing an extra two inches on every side, as fabric tends to shrink. Paint a fairly thick coat of the glue solution on the board. Brush a coat of the glue solution on the back of the canvas fabric. Place the cut fabric on the panel and spread it from the center to the outer edges with your hands. Use a rubber spatula or bray to rid the surface of trapped air bubbles and allow the excess glue to escape. Be sure the fabric is entirely covered with glue and flat. Let air-dry. Your canvas panel has been sufficiently sized and is now ready for ground preparation.

Refer to Priming Canvas for Oil Painting for the gesso priming of your panel.