Transferring sketch

gggraph · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: Transferring sketch

I've just turned (temporarily) to the dark side... yes, I'm actually trying to work on canvas. Shocked

Normally, I work on Arches Smooth or Schollers-Hammer for airbrush work, so I have no experience at all with canvas. My son is doing Studio Arts at school and has to do an acrylic on canvas as part of the curriculum, so we decided to each have a go...

The first problem that arises is how do you get your final sketch onto the canvas? Normally, I'd use a lightbox, but that's out in this case. I prefer to sort out all the line-work before I ever start working on the final material - so how does everybody else do it?

Cheers

Grant

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2163 Location: Gippsland

I usually draw straight on to the canvas after doing a base coat, much the same as when I work on paper.
If this isnt possible, you could graph it up and draw it that way, or use an over head projector to put a line image you could trace around!

Good luck Grant!

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1017 Location: Newcastle

I agree with the above and have used all these methods.
If you have access to a larger printer (I have an a3) scan work or photgraph it. Break it into sections and use carbon paper. No good for a very large canvas of course.

Tango · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1049 Location: Melbourne

From a small sketch I upscale to a large sheet of tracing paper that is the size of the proposed painting, this gives me the opportunity to make any adjustments that become obvious in the larger scale , then turn the tracing paper over and go over the revers of the drawing with a 6B pencil then place tracing paper on canvas and go over the drawing again leaving the image impressed on the canvas

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 2522 Location: Sydney

I like to use pastel pencil to draw on the canvas.
Bad lines come off very easily with an eraser.

belle · Joined: 01 Oct 2006 Posts: 1017 Location: Newcastle

PS: I miss your last avatar! It was a crack up.

gggraph · Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Re - Transferring sketch

Annee · Joined: 28 Jun 2007 Posts: 103

Ha ha put the ruler back in the drawer. Get out the BIG brushes, stand back and attack the canvas freestyle. Good advice I can't follow...

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2823 Location: Tasmania

Wish I could do what annee suggests, but i too am too anal retentive. I produce usually an A4 sized copy of the reference photo or sketch, draw a graph on it, then work out the scale ratio to the canvas, and put small marks on the edges or the canvas to indicate where the grid is. Then I measure out from the sides using a set square and ruler on the canvas. Sometimes I will put a dot on the canvas in paint to mark the intersection of lines, sometimes just put the brush there then rely on my eye to put the detail where it goes in relation to that square, but I don't draw lines all over the canvas.

lisa_m · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Posts: 199 Location: Queensland

*hugs her overhead projector*