Although watercolours are usually used on paper, in theory any porous ground that is free of grease can be used.

It is also important that the ground has a neutral pH, that is to say that it is neither acidic nor alkaline. Watercolours can, for example, be used on Gesso.

This is not recommended. Both products have a surface that is too sealed, so that the oil can scarcely, if at all, bond on the acrylic film. Poor adhesion of the oil paint film would then result.

Oil paint does not adhere well onto metal, plastics and other non-absorbent grounds. The ground will first have to be treated with an adhesive primer or wash primer suitable for the ground in question.

We cannot guarantee the quality of adherence of the primer. Lightly sand the primer once dry and apply a second layer. Also sand this layer once dry and apply one or more layers of Gesso 1001. The ground is now ready for painting with oil paint.

As neither oil colours nor acrylic colours (also read: Gesso) adhere well to metal, the sheet first has to be treated with an adhesion primer or wash primer for metal. This is an industrial product that you can buy in any reputable paint shop.  Once dry, the primer should be sanded lightly. If the metal can still be seen through the primer then apply a second coat and sand this when dry. For optimal adherence of the paint, a layer of Gesso should be applied at the end. The surface is now suitable for the adherence of both acrylic and oil colours.

In theory, any ground is suitable, providing it has been prepared in the correct way. The most common surfaces are cotton, linen, synthetic fibres, (wooden) panels, cardboard and paper.

The grounds supplied by Talens have already been primed. There is a choice of cotton or linen stretched canvas, cotton, linen, cotton/rayon and polyester roll canvas and canvas boards. Stretched canvases are available in many sizes, and cotton, linen and mixed fibre roll canvas are offered in various grades.

Talens stretched canvas is universally primed and can therefore be painted on directly with oil and acrylic paint.

There are holes on the inside of each corner of the frame (as well as the cross laths) where the sharp points of the wedges can be inserted. If the canvas begins to hang slack, the wedges are inserted further, thereby enlarging the canvas stretcher. This stretches the canvas.  The canvas must not be stretched too tightly with these wedges; in environments with low moisture levels the canvas will experience a great deal of tension and might tear.

Talens stretched canvas is pre-sized with bone glue and primed with Gesso.

In theory, watercolours can be used to paint on any type of paper, although the best results will be achieved on watercolour paper. Watercolour paper has a special surface glue, usually gelatine. Because of this glue, the pigments are not absorbed by the paper, which ensures that the colours remain pure. What's more, this glue ensures that when a lot of water is used, the paper does not bulge excessively.

Rayon fibre is made from cellulose and is much less sensitive to the effects of moisture than cotton. The canvas will therefore be less likely to suffer from slackness than a pure cotton canvas.

In contrast to natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, polyester is not vulnerable to differences in moisture and temperature. On the other hand, polyester fibre is very stretchy (note: not elastic!) and if there is a dent in the canvas, this can no longer be repaired.

All grounds that are free of grease and are somewhat absorbent, such as paper, cardboard, wood, cotton and linen, can be prepared with Gesso.

When preparing an open woven canvas it is recommended to first apply a layer of Amsterdam acrylic binder. This seals the mesh of the canvas so that the Gesso does not penetrate through to the rear.

If Cobra is thinned with water, universally primed canvases are the best choice. If water is not used, then it is possible to paint on canvases that have been prepared in the traditional way using an oil-based primer.

All grounds that are free of grease and are somewhat absorbent can be used as a ground for painting with water mixable oil paint, providing this has been prepared with a universal primer.

The stretched canvas is usually already given this preparation.

Untreated grounds, such as paper, cardboard, wood, cotton and linen, can be prepared with Talens Gesso 1001. This is an excellent universal primer based on pure acrylic. 

When preparing an open woven canvas it is recommended to first apply a layer of Amsterdam acrylic binder. This seals the mesh of the canvas so that the Gesso does not penetrate through to the rear.

Various grounds are suitable for oil pastel, such as paper, (painting) cardboard, wood, textiles, unglazed earthenware, stone and artists' canvas. The ground does, however, have to be somewhat absorbent and free of dust and moisture.  

In theory, every ground can be used, providing it has a sufficient surface structure. Paper is usually used.

When using pastels, a dry coloured powder is spread over the paper. In contrast to paint, pastels do not have a binder that adheres it to the ground. The pastel powder hangs onto the fibres of the paper, as it were. In order to apply a lot of colour, the paper therefore needs a certain surface structure.

Drawing paper, which is suitable for Siberian chalk, for example, is too smooth and/or too hard to hold sufficient pastel.  

When other flexible grounds are used, such as textiles, it is important that the painting is framed so that the ground cannot move. Vibrations can cause the pastel particles to loosen.

A canvas board is a sheet of hardboard, MDF or sturdy cardboard onto which universally primed cotton has been glued. This ensures that the cotton can no longer expand due to the absorption of moisture.  

A universal primer contains no oil and is therefore suitable for paints based on water as well as oil. The primer of an oil-primed canvas contains oil and is consequently not suitable for paints based on water.

Properties of artists' canvas

Talens sells universally primed and oil-primed canvases.

A universal primer contains no oil and is therefore suitable for paints based on water as well as oil. The primer of an oil-primed canvas contains oil and is consequently not suitable for paints based on water.

Cotton and linen

Cotton is more sensitive to moisture and can start to  slacken more quickly. Once dry the canvas will automatically become taut again. Linen is more durable and stronger than cotton and also stretches less.

Polyester

In contrast to natural fibres, such as cotton and linen, polyester is not vulnerable to differences in moisture and temperature. On the other hand, polyester fibre is very stretchy (note: not elastic!) and if there is a dent in the canvas, this can no longer be repaired.

Rayon

Rayon fibre is made from cellulose and is much less sensitive to the effects of moisture than cotton. The canvas will therefore be less likely to suffer from slackness than a pure cotton canvas.ble 

Cotton is more sensitive to moisture and can start to  slacken more quickly. Once dry the canvas will automatically become taut again. Moreover, linen is more durable and stronger than cotton.

The Talens canvas boards are universally primed and are therefore suitable for all types of paint.

This has to be due to the quality of the paper. Or it has become damaged when it was cut. With demonstrably straight lines, something has gone wrong with the production of the paper. You must also be careful not to get greasy fingerprints on the paper.