Directions
for Oil Cloth (A.K.A Painted Canvas)
Materials Needed:
Canvas (38x74” = Working Size)
White Cotton Thread
Gesso (Enough to cover one side of canvas)
Black semi-gloss latex paint
Boiled Linseed Oil
Paint Thinner
4 to 6 nails
Wooden
Frame assembled to size of “Finished Canvas”
Waxed Linen Thread OR
Instructions
for Construction of Oil Cloth:
Cut Canvas to the desired “Working Size” of 38x74 inches and
hem all four edges to the “Finished Size” of 36x72 inches and
iron flat. Then, measure out four
to six (your preference) grommet holes and mark them on the canvas.
Then,
you simply nail the canvas to the wooden frame (top side up), placing the nails
through the marked grommet holes.
(This will prevent the material from shrinking and curling once the paint
is applied)
Paint
the top side of the canvas with Artists’ Gesso and allow to dry.
(One coat should be adequate just make sure that the surface of the
canvas feels smooth to touch and all of the canvas surface is completely covered
with the Gesso. The Gesso prevents the paint from bleeding through to the
underside of the canvas)
*HINT - We used a sponge to put the gesso on and it worked great for making sure
that the gesso filled the textured surface of the canvas.
Paint
over the gesso with Satin Black latex paint and
allow to dry.
(The satin finish of the paint will give the most accurate period appearance)
*You will need to paint a second coat onto the canvas once the first coat is
dry.
Lightly rub Boiled Linseed Oil onto your painted canvas with a rag. Be careful not to put too thick a coat on as it will take weeks to dry instead of days.
Allow
Painted Cloth to dry and set for a few days.
(You will probably need to add a second coat of Linseed Oil once the
first is dry.)
When
the canvas is dry, remove from the frame. The next step is up to you…
You
can either cut out ¼” sized
grommet holes (using the previous measurements) then place hand-worked grommets
into your cloth using waxed linen thread and the whip stitch
OR
You can place brass grommets of
the correct
¼” size into your
cloth