The South African Artist – July 2019

To watch videos on how to use Dala

products, visit the Dala Creative TV

Channel on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/c/DalaCreativeTV

PAINTING ON CARDBAORD

Many famous artists, including Picasso, Miro and Degas painted pictures on cardboard. Cardboard

is not just economical and readily available but also recyclable. While not the best material for an oil

painting many fine art paintings completed on cardboard have survived in museums for many years.

• Recycled Cardboard Box


• Acrylic Gel medium


• Cotton Fabric


• White Gesso


• Masking Tape


• Paint Brushes

MATERIALS:

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Learning Centre with Veronika Olivier

In order to make the best use of cardboard as a canvas it should be primed. This is because
cardboard tends to absorb paint and can warp. It will also last much longer if it is properly
prepared for painting. Cheaper cardboard makes a good support for practicing brush strokes
and testing new materials. Cardboard is also good for throw-away experiments, colour
swatches and value scales. The following step-by-step is how to prepare a recycled cardboard
box as a permanent canvas to paint on with acrylics or oils.

1. I often use pizza boxes to make canvasses to paint on and always fill them up with
   recycled plastic in an effort to support the fight against plastic pollution, but this is
   optional.


2. Tape the box with masking tape to make it sturdy.


3. Cut the fabric with extra allowance to fold over the sides and the back of the box.


4. Apply a generous layer of Gel Medium on the top and sides and lay the fabric over it. When
   it is dry paint a thin layer of gel medium over the fabric.


5. Fold the corners on the sides before you apply Gel Medium.


6. When the fabric is dry apply 2 to 3 layers of Gesso in different directions waiting for each
   layer to dry in between.


7. You can paint or collage the back of the box for finishing touches. Your new recycled
   canvas is ready for acrylic or oil painting.

In the past cardboard was mostly used

for painting reference materials and

visual aids when painting large, complex

compositions, but contemporary artists

mostly use it as a permanent substrate

for sketches and paintings.