Is an oil underpainting necessary on a store bought triple primed canvas?

Question

I bought a canvas that has been triple primed for oil and acrylic paints, so I'm wondering if an underpainting is absolutely necessary. This piece was commissioned, so I'd hate for the paint to start cracking or for the oil to spread because I skipped a step. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Not really nessesary.  Oil paint will adhere fine on comercially prepared canvas.  I'm sure you already know this, but anyways remember 'fat over lean' and you will be fine.

You can however use a diluted wash of burnt sienna to take away the stark whiteness of the canvas.  I find it easier to paint on an off-white canvas, that's just me.

Answer 2

It's okay to paint on the canvas you bought without doing anything else to it. I have to add that ''underpainting'' is usually a thin wash of color that is applied prior to actually painting. Some artist will use this process to block in their subject or object, define light and shadow, kill the white of the canvas, or as a base color that will interact with the color that's painted over it. If you find that your paintings look too posteristic or flat, underpainting is something you may want to check into. My work can be checked out at hellosanantonio.com under artist name GUERRO1. I'm a selftaught artist and i thought i would pass on what i learned about underpainting because many of the art books i studied while teaching myself to paint never mention it.

Answer 3

ok i think you are referring to another coat of primer onto the canvas which is defnitely not neccesary if it is already triple primed, unless u wish to add custom texture to the surface of the painting.

An underpainting is basically the blocking in of major shapes on your painting to get an understanding of where they are, which can be useful, but does not effect the cracking or condition of the oil paint.

Answer 4

I go to classes in a professional studio and we get those for painting and honestly we do not do anything to them.

Answer 5

Yeah, Zetsu got a thumbs down for some reason, but his (or her) answer is absolutely correct.