Oil Paint
Which Canvas Did Bob Ross Use?
Bob Ross commonly painted on stretched, primed canvas around 18 × 24 inches, though the wet-on-wet technique can be adapted to other suitable sizes and supports.
Published · Oil Paint
Bob Ross used 18" X 24" stretched and double primed artistic grade 2 or 3 level canvas most of the time.
https://youtu.be/lLWEXRAnQd0?t=60
In this article, I will explain the following:
- Which canvas will suit your artistic level (white & black canvas)?
- Which type of canvas should you choose?
Good canvas idea for Bob Ross's painting
A suitable canvas should be firmly stretched, properly primed, and strong enough for broad wet-on-wet brushwork, with size and texture chosen for the painting you plan to make.
| Grade | Prime level | Structure | Note | |
| Artlicious Canvases for Painting | Beginner and student grade | Lower level | Back is not very good for support. You have to add shims behind the canvas. | Cheap price. The quality is not great. However, by applying gesso as a primer you can increase the canvas level 1 or 2. Recommend those who just start learning canvas painting. |
| Level 1 Back Stapled Traditional Canvas by Artist's Loft | Beginner and student grade | Good than lower level | Quality almost the same as the first Artlicious canvas | The prime level is good but not smooth. You have to add gesso primer to make the surface smooth. |
| U.S. Art Supply 18 x 24 inch Black Stretched Canvas | Black canvas Beginner and student grade | Good than lower level | Quality almost the same as the first Artlicious canvas | Apply 2 coats of gesso as a primer. The canvas level will be increased to level 2. You also can make white canvas black using black gesso. |
| Level 2 Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas by Artist's Loft | Artistic grade | 3 coats and smoothly primed | Good structure | You should start from level 2 canvas. Because it has a very smooth finish and a good structure like Bob Ross. No need to apply the gesso layer. |
| Level 3 Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas by Artist's Loft | Artistic grade and premium | 3 coats and very well prime | Heavy duty and strong structure | This is an upper-level and premium artistic canvas. If you have a good budget go with it. You will love it. |
Is a thick or thin canvas better?
Canvas weight alone does not determine quality; stability, stretcher construction, priming, tension, and surface texture matter more than simply choosing the thickest fabric.
Generally, there 3 standard canvas thickness types:
- .75 inch canvas: Universal standard canvas thickness worldwide.
- 1.5 inch canvas: No need for a canvas frame.
- 2 inches canvas: Use for serious and important pieces.