What support do you prefer for Water Soluble Oils?

I'm just wondering what your preference for support is for WSOs. Any special way that you prepare your support? How many coats of gesso do you apply to canvas if you use canvas? I just use one coat rite now but I'm wondering if I shoud use more.

I use stretched canvas, canvasboard, gessoed masonite board, and gessoed watercolor paper. Most times the manufacture's gesso surface of canvas or gessoboard is fine with me. I don't add gesso unless I start with plain masonite or watercolor paper. For those I add 2 layers of gesso. When I want a smoother surface, I use the gessoboard or watercolor paper.

I buy good quality, pre-stretched canvas. I don't add more coats of gesso - the canvas usually already has about 3 coats applied to it. I like the texture of canvas so I don't want to lose it with too many coats of gesso.

I really like stretched linen, but I have yet to try it with WSOs. Has anyone else tried it?

I love stretched linen. It's really wonderful for portraits. I recently bought some linen panels, haven't tried them yet. I bought a W&N str. canvas (blue label) to try it out. It seemed a little rough, but by the time I was finished with the painting, I really liked it. Have since ordered a few cases! For plein air, I use either Pintura or Panelli gessoed boards.

Thank you Debra, Sofie and Callie! For sharing your support preferences and how you prepare your canvas.

I'm bad for most of the 8X10 and 16X12 canvas that I've been using they're dollar store canvas. I do apply one coat of gesso. Some of the bigger 16X20 canvas that I've used were more expensive and I use to not gesso but I did find that the colors get dull quick when I don't gesso. I think the canvas is too absorbent without it for the canvas that I've used. I haven't tried linen yet but that's on my list to try.

I've used paper...110 lb Robert Bateman Cover Series. I apply one coat of gesso. I really like working with paper.

I've used canvas paper which I find work fairly good but I prefer the gessoed paper better.

I like the canvas board as well. Easy to store and transport.

I usually use pre-stretched canvas or I stretch my own depending on the size I want. Most of then are all larger paintings.

Janet, I've been using canvas paper for the challenges and for experimenting, but they do tend to warp. I never thought about sealing them first with gesso.
I'll have to do that the next time I use it.

Judy

PS: I love the new emoticons

Judy, I've never gessoed canvas paper before but now that you brign it up that might work well.

I'm glad you're enjoying the emoticons. When I have some time I'll see if I can find some more fun ones.

I work on both panel board, baltic birch, and canvas. I paint with a thick heavy stroke so the canvas weave doesn't matter to me.

Edited to add that my husband makes my raised baltic birch panels for me, he's a woodworker and very uptight about joints etc., I'll try to remember to take some pics and post them later on.

Kimberly

Kimberly, thank you for sharing and I'm looking forward to seeing the pics of your panels.