Monday, May 10, 2010

I caved and bought linen

Even a rocktown dwelling artist like myself is aware of the current silent code regarding one's painting ground. If you're serious, you paint on linen. This did just happen in the past few years, right? Is there a huge archival or durability difference between well prepared canvas and linen?? I'm abandoning wood for now and must now deal with this coercive new rule. I want to rebel, but I get the linen, and the size, and an oil primer.

I leave the store disgusted, but also very excited....

8 comments:

Carla said...

I think a ritualistic (and possibly irrational) approach to prep, like purchasing and preparing linen, reminds me that making art matters, even though I can't justify it.

M.A.H. said...

Linen rules, but I still paint on crappy store boughts every now and then when I'm feeling WTF-ish.
Good luck and enjoy!

Nomi Lubin said...

I've never heard of any archival or durability difference between well prepared canvas vs linen.

I think you should paint on which ever you prefer or can afford.

Coercive new rule? Whose?

Carla said...

It's coercively whispered in the wind, which means it's an intangible (ie:confusing?) blend of my own perceptions, projections, and paranoias.

Nomi Lubin said...

That sounds awesome.

Carla said...

Don't encourage me.

The linen is being sized. Smells very good.

chris said...

re: archival difference between cotton duck and linen

I know my copy of Mayer's Handbook of Artist Materials states pretty emphatically that linen is for heroes, cotton duck is for zeroes.

Carla said...

Huh-uh Mayer's Handbook, YOUR the zero...