“Do not fear mistakes, there are none.”
Miles Davis (19226-1991)
I was very fortunate to recently move from my cluttered closet of a studio to a beautiful new space with plenty of storage. It is amazing how many canvasses of both unfinished and below standard pieces one can accumulate. I pledged to recycle before purchasing another canvas especially since my collection includes a variety of sizes.
You have, I am sure, been told that one should not apply acrylic over oil paint; oil dries slowly while acrylic dries very quickly thus it would adversely alter the surface finish and paint may even chip off. Well, Gesso is an acrylic product; yet, I have found it works quite well even over oil when applied properly in the recycling process. Our friend Madeline LaFarge suggests using a latex based product called Kilz available at the hardware store; it works really well and is inexpensive, thank you Madeline! First, choose oil paintings that have been seasoned for at least 6 months. Using medium grade sandpaper, sand the surface to a dull finish. Then, apply the first coat of Gesso or Kilz with an inexpensive disposable sponge brush. When dry, lightly sand it with fine grade sandpaper before applying a second coat which can also be sanded. If one desires a rougher surface for the paint to adhere better, one can mix sand or pumice to the final coat. You may wonder why not simply use Titanium white to cover a used canvas. It will work of course; however, I find both Gesso and Kilz to have a more neutral effect at less cost and much faster drying time.
Using recycled canvasses can give you the benefit of a more textured surface, the effect of which can be maximized in a new painting. Another way to reuse a bad painting is simply to keep pushing it to a different level of expression without any concerns or expectations. I have found this process to be very liberating and fun, and on occasion, I have even surprised myself with a successful new painting.
So, you think you painted some bad paintings! Who hasn’t? Acknowledge what it is that in your opinion didn’t work… get over it and have some fun with it! When in doubt, recycle, I have not yet regretted it.