Stretching raw linen

[Jean Kelly]

Richard, thank you so much for such an informative answer! I did'nt realize that I could paint directly over the RSG and think I will try that next time. I love the color of linen, and a light sanding should take care of the excessive roughness, as well as saving me a lot of work in applying the primer. I understand your point about flexablity and the brittle nature of aging oil paint.

Again, thank you!

Jean

[Jean Kelly]

If I did this right, here is the link to the thread with the "credit card" technique .

http://forum.portraitartist.com/showthread.php?t=5202

Jean

[Richard Bingham]

Jean, thanks for posting that link.

There are some problems with discussion on that particular thread . . . truly, "rolling your own" is harder to do correctly than it appears to be.

[Allan Rahbek]

This is a drawing of a priming knife from around1640. The curved shape prevented the knife from furrowing the priming paste when dragged across the canvas.
Since the canvas will give inn a little when the knife or spatula is pressed against it you will have to use a tool with rounded corners ............ a credit card.