surfaces

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Essential canvas priming materials and ready-made primed canvases are all now available to purchase online! Click here to visit our online store.

John Jones offers a strong range of primed canvas and bottles of primer for artists who prefer to carry out canvas preparation independently. Surface priming prevents oil from soaking into the canvas or linen, therefore preventing rotting and long-term damage. Canvas priming also allows the paint to sit on the surface rather than sinking in, thus maximising the colour and avoiding a chalky, dry effect.

A professional artist canvas that has been fully prepared to museum standards behaves very differently to cheaper, mass produced canvases manufactured using low quality materials. Professional artists find that each layer of colour glides onto the surface of a high quality primed canvas material in a "buttery" manner. With the proper consistency of application, a painting entirely devoid of brushstrokes can be readily achieved.

We supply Golden acrylic gesso and Roberson’s acrylic gesso for canvas preparation. Both of these brands are flexible white or black primers ideal for painting directly onto raw artist canvas or linen. Acrylic gesso often has a slight tooth to the surface, whilst Roberson’s acrylic primer is smoother. Roberson’s oil primer is an un-absorbent ground for use with oil paints only, and is used for surface priming canvas and artist boards sealed with rabbit skin glue or acrylic size and sealer. Golden sandable gesso is for use on rigid substrates only e.g. wooden panels, and can be sanded to a porcelain smooth finish.

In addition to this selection of quality artist primers, we also stock essential artist materials and tools including staplers, pliers and priming brushes for effortless canvas preparation.
 

Priming Service

Our team of technicians offers a hand brush canvas priming service in our London workshops, both in acrylic and oil primer with up to as many coats as you desire. We can also work with you on your chosen specification of application if required. John Jones choose to use our highest grade of primers from the Lascaux, Roberson and Golden ranges. Alternatively, we are happy to use your chosen brand as required, and can also spray primer onto a pre-primed canvas or linen in our specialist spray booth to give an ultra smooth canvas finish.

Whether you prefer to carry out your canvas preparation independently, or have our studio team create the perfect primed canvas for you, we are always on hand to offer advice on the best materials and techniques to use in artwork surface priming.