Can You Use Watercolor On A Normal Canvas?

If you're reading this, you probably gave watercolor painting on your canvas a shot. So, how did it go? Any accidental masterpieces or a bit of a mess?

Well, If your canvas ended up with leaking watercolors and unexpected smudges, it may be because you didn’t prep it beforehand. 

Canvases are usually painted with oils or acrylic, but using watercolors requires preparing the canvas with a suitable base. This “base” creates enough room for colors to spread and get absorbed on the rough canvas surface. 

Want to know more about this base and how to properly paint on a canvas with watercolors? Read till the end to find out! 

Can You Use Watercolor on a Normal Canvas?

No, it’s not suitable to use watercolors directly on a normal canvas because watercolors need a surface to absorb. However, the surface of a canvas is rougher, so there is not much ground for watercolors to spread smoothly and be absorbed consistently. 

Also, you shouldn't try to coat your canvas with watercolors directly, because:

• First off, watercolors are made of water and pigments. When you put them on canvas, the water gets absorbed, and the pigments stay behind. But canvas isn't always the best at soaking up watercolors; it’s not like a paper that “drinks” watercolors. 
• Second, canvas has a rough texture, which can make it hard to control where the colors go. If the canvas isn't properly prepared with a primer, it might not absorb the colors evenly. As a result, this uneven absorption can lead to unexpected patterns and blending, making it difficult to control the painting.
• Another challenge is that watercolors are all about transparency. That means they are see-through. When you put a color on top of another, they mix and create new colors. Once a color is on the canvas, it's there, and you can't just paint over it like you can with thicker paints.

So, in simple words, painting with watercolors directly on the canvas is challenging. Watercolors are mainly used on paper, which can absorb their watery texture. But, if you are going to use them on another surface like canvas, you have to make sure that there is enough room for “absorption.” 

An easy way to do this is to use a barrier between the watercolor coating and the material (canvas). This barrier will increase the absorbency of the surface, so that watercolors can properly spread on the canvas. 

Let’s learn more about this primer and how you can use it to paint with watercolors on a canvas! 

How to Paint With Watercolor on a Normal Canvas?

Canvases are usually used for oil and acrylic painting, while paper is the best surface for watercolors. But when you try painting with watercolors on a normal canvas, it requires some prep work. 

Usually, you have two options to paint with watercolors on a canvas:

• You can either make your own canvas and prepare it with gesso before painting. 
• Or, you can purchase pre-made canvases that are already stretched and primed from art stores. 

One important thing to remember here is that this “gesso” is not the regular gesso. It is a special primer designed for layering the canvas surface for watercolors. 

Because using traditional gesso to paint watercolors on canvas doesn’t feel the same as painting on paper. It happens because the canvas is rougher and absorbs the paint in a way that changes how it looks and feels. 

And so, relying on traditional gesso to paint watercolors on canvas doesn't quite capture the essence of painting on paper. 

If you want to maintain the unique qualities of watercolors on canvas, you need to apply an extra layer of primer called "watercolor ground." This is a special coating you can put on surfaces to help them soak in watercolors better. 

Now, this watercolor ground is similar to the gesso but has a special formulation that is made to be extra absorbent compared to regular gesso. The reason for this is that watercolors on a canvas require a surface that can absorb them to a certain extent, but not too much. So, the extra primer prevents the colors from penetrating too deeply. 

Moreover, what’s good about this “watercolor ground primer” is that it works not just for watercolors but also for other water-based art materials. Like you can use it on things like canvas, paper, hardboard, plaster, wood panels, and even on smooth surfaces like glass, metal, and plastic. 

However, for the smooth surfaces, it's a good idea to rough them up a bit with sandpaper so that the watercolor coating sticks better.

What is a Watercolor Canvas? 

Sometimes, regular canvas, even with a base coat, isn't absorbent enough for watercolors. They might not stick well, making it hard to blend or layer colors. 

Also, it's not easy for many artists to buy an additional primer and layer your canvas with it to paint with watercolors. If doing so becomes a hassle for you, there is a cool option you can try. 

These are called watercolor canvases, which are a type of canvas specially designed for use with watercolor paints. Unlike traditional canvases, which are not absorbent enough for watercolors, these "watercolor canvases" have a surface that is coated already to handle the unique properties of watercolor paint. 

In other words, this specialized canvas provides a suitable surface for watercolors to spread and adhere to. You can find various forms on these watercolor canvases, like stretched canvases, canvas boards, and canvas pads. 

Watercolor Canvas VS. Watercolor Paper 

In case you are wondering, which one is better: watercolor canvas or watercolor paper? 

Using watercolor canvas is like having a tough and strong canvas to paint on. It's way stronger than watercolor paper, so artists can paint more energetically without worrying about damaging the canvas. 

Also, a watercolor canvas can handle rough treatment better than watercolor paper. Even if the paper you are painting on is designed specifically for watercolors, it can become easily damaged or warped when wet. 

It takes skill to properly paint on paper with watercolors, which is why beginner artists often find it challenging to paint without damaging the water. 

On the other hand, if you use a special watercolor canvas, it's made to handle watercolor painting really well. The way it's made keeps it from bending or losing its shape when it gets wet. 

The canvas also has a surface that helps the paint stick to it, so it’s easier to control the “spreading” of colors. 

Moreover, the canvas's durability also means that it's easier to remove or wash off the paint if the artist wants to change something in their artwork. This is not the case with paper; once you have painted a paper, it’s really hard to remove the paint or wash the paper without damaging it. 

However, while it’s possible, removing watercolors from a watercolor canvas is also somewhat tricky. First, it’s hard to move the paint around without lifting what's already on the canvas. Second, paint can gather in pools because the canvas doesn’t absorb it. And lastly, the paint doesn't stick to the canvas, even if you use a special primer.

To make things simple, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of each. 

Watercolor paper has the following pros and cons:

Pros 

• Watercolor paper is designed to soak up water, which helps the paint spread and blend nicely.
• It often has a textured surface that even beginners can use.
• You can easily get watercolor paper at art supply stores at a much lower rate. 

Cons

• If it gets too wet, it can bend or warp, which makes it a bit tricky to work with.
• It's not THAT tough, so you have to be gentle to avoid damaging it.
• Finished work on watercolor paper needs a frame or glass for protection.

On the other hand, watercolor canvas has the following pros and cons:

Pros 

• Watercolor canvas is strong, so you can paint energetically without worrying about damage.
• It's easy to remove or wash off the paint, giving you the flexibility to change your artwork.
• You can display your finished piece without a frame or glass cover.

Cons

• Painting on canvas can be hard, especially for beginners. 
• Poor-quality watercolor canvases do not stick to the paint well, and others with higher quality are expensive.  

Comparison Table: Watercolor Paper VS. Watercolor Canvas

To simplify, both watercolor paper and watercolor canvas have their plus and minus points. To make things even clearer, here is a table comparing the features of watercolor paper vs watercolor canvas:

How to Paint Canvas Shoes With Watercolors

Can you paint on canvas shoes with watercolors? Well, like a normal canvas, shoes made of canvas have the same issue: the fabric will be porous and watercolors will not be able to spread and absorb properly. 

Also, shoes go through a lot of movement, so there are always risks of color breaking down once it has dried. To avoid this, you should use a barrier to seal the colors and prevent them from breaking down in contact with water, moisture, sunlight, and air. 

If you are thinking of painting your canvas shoes with watercolors, keep the following steps in mind:

1. You will need canvas shoes, gesso (watercolor ground gesso, not the traditional gesso), a wide brush for applying gesso, and a smaller brush for details.
2. Choose a clean and well-ventilated area for your work. Lay down newspaper or a protective cover to keep your workspace clean.
3. With a wide brush, apply the first coat of gesso evenly over the entire canvas. Make sure to brush in one direction for a smoother finish. Wait for the gesso to dry completely.
4. If you want an extra smooth surface, lightly sand the canvas after the first coat of gesso has dried. 
5. Apply one or two more coats of gesso, and wait for each coat to dry completely before adding the next. Multiple coats create a more stable and absorbent surface for your watercolor paint.
6. Once the gesso has created an even and smooth surface on the canvas, it's time to paint. If needed, you can sand lightly between coats for a consistent finish.
7. After the gesso is completely dried and you are done sanding, paint your shoes with watercolors. 
8. After painting, seal the colors with a clear fixative or varnish to protect the colors from breaking down later. 

That’s it! Always remember to coat before and after painting with watercolors on canvas. Whether you paint on a normal canvas or canvas shoes, gesso creates a barrier around the watercolors and preserves them for a long time. 

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Here's how it works:

1. Visit freakyshoes.com and pick your favorite pair from their cool collection.
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