Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Substrates - From Canvas to Paper, etc...

Purple Star emoji 18 items
Having the proper substrate is important to get the effect you desire from the supplies you might be using. It matters when painting with watercolor to have the appropriate absorbent paper, or charcoal to have the right “grip” or “tooth” you need. He...
Sections
4
 
 
 
 

Canvas

Whether you want small or super large, canvas is an important part of an artists' studio. You can get prestreched canvas or by the roll and stretch it yourself. This is nice when you have old paintings that you do not want to waste the frame.

 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Blick is where I get a lot of my canvas. They are affordable and great quality.
Art Canvases and Painting Surfaces
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Wood canvas is good to work on if you need a more sturdy surface for thicker heavier paints.
Hardboard and Wood Painting Panels
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
A lot of time I frame my own canvas because if a painting does not work out, I just reuse the frame.
Unprimed Canvas Rolls
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Get yourself a large canvas and play and have fun. Large canvases give you a large surface on which to paint and explore.
Extra Large Stretched Canvas
placeholder
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Gessoed and colored canvas rolls. Start with an already primed surface. If you cannot stretch the canvas, you can hang it to your wall and paint. Hanging it on a wall to start makes it easier to get the edges painted because they are already part of ...
Primed and Colored Canvas Rolls
placeholder
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Help to make your paintings pop by adding a frame. Giving it a finished, polished and professional look.
Canvas Frames and Floater Frames
placeholder

Paper

Some painting surfaces need not be canvas. Paper is a great substrate to work on and, unlike canvas, it is a much more affordable way to practice before putting paint to canvas.

 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
An array of sizes types, brands, weights to choose from.
Watercolor Paper and Pads
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
I love charcoal and having. It is fun. It is messy. It is forgivable and the right paper makes all the difference.
Charcoal Papers and Pads
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Same as with charcoal. Pastels are fun and having the right paper truly makes your life much easier as the pastels will adhere properly.
Pastel Paper and Boards
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Keep your drawing skills sharp with paper pads.
Drawing Pads and Sketch Pads
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Lets face it using multple media is fun. Using muli-media paper will aid in the practice of multple media techneques.
Mixed Media Paper and Pads
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Adding colored tissue paper to your canvas first helps aid in color and texture. Plus most times the color will bleed when wet which helps with debth and interest.
Blick Art Tissue
placeholder

Other Substrates

Get creative. Almost anything can be painted on. I have added a frew not quite traditional, but not “out there” substrates. But look in your garage also. Is there an old saw or wood panel or even cardboard. The sky is pretty much the limit.

 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Creating art on glass or plexiglass is something that I have wanted to try for a while now.
Clear Acrylic Sheets
placeholder
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Canvas boards are great to practice on because they can be pretty inexpensive. They are also great for a heavier body paint as they are sturdier than wrapped canvas.
Canvas Boards and Panels
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Now some artists have wrapped their canvas frames with fabric. I have not tried this, but maybe some day I will. I beleive you would probably want an heavier more sturdy fabric.
Fabrics and Materials
placeholder

Other Things to Paint On

Why stick to canvas. Go to thrift stores or craft stores and get bird houses, or ornaments. Whatever strikes your fancy can probably be painted on.

 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
Michaels is one of the places for find stuff to paint on.
Michaels
placeholder
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
I found these little ghosts. I don't even know the store, nor do I get a commission, but how fun would it be to make these.
Crafts
placeholder
 
Raelyn Acorn Art profile picture
When is a bird house not fun to paint. You can probably build it yourself or go to the Dollar Tree (might be a small one).
Bird Houses
placeholder