7 Best Canvas for Acrylic Pouring

When trying to get awesome acrylic pours, we often pay very close attention to the paints and pouring medium we are using, however, sometimes we forget about how important it is to have a good canvas.

Yes, regular cheap canvases are great for practicing and building your skills, however, sometimes those cheap canvases can also cause issues like paint not sticking to the canvas' surface, a saggy painting surface, and more. 

So I will give you 7 great options to choose from. Let's take a look at some more affordable canvases and also at some thicker and more professional canvases.

Which Canvas Should You Choose

All of the above options are great choices, however, here are some extra tips to help you make your decision easier.

• If you are planning on selling your paintings, then consider purchasing a canvas with a higher profile (depth of 1.5" or more) as it can give your painting a luxury look. 
• If you are a beginner who just wants to build your skills and get better at pour painting, then get one of the more affordable options.  No need to waste money on a higher quality canvas that you might not end up keeping or selling.
• Consider the size. Even though bigger paintings require more paint and might be a little bit harder to manipulate when paint pouring, they are also more fun and look better when hung up on a wall. Smaller canvases are better for testing out techniques or color palettes. 

Common Questions About Paint Pouring on Canvas

Let me answer some of the most common questions related to paint pouring on canvas. 

Can you acrylic pour on canvas?

Yes! In fact, many artists mostly do acrylic pouring on canvas. However, other surfaces such as ceramic tiles, wood, glass, and rocks can also be used for paint pouring.

How do you prepare a canvas for acrylic pouring?

If you purchased a pre-primed canvas, then all you need to do is put some frog tape on the back of your canvas so you can get a clean back after paint pouring. Other than that, there are not extra steps needed to start acrylic pouring over your canvas.

If your canvas is not primed or you made your own stretched canvas from scratch, you will need to add a coat of gesso to the canvas' surface. This will slightly texturize and prepare the surface for receiving paint without the paint soaking through the weave.

Is gesso necessary for acrylic pouring?

It depends. If the canvas you purchased is already primed (most canvas already come primed) for acrylic painting, then you don't need gesso. However, if you are making your own stretched canvas from scratch, you will definitely need to add a coat of gesso to help your paint stick to the canvas' surface. 

What type of canvas to use for an acrylic pour?

I recommend that you purchase a stretched canvas that has been previously primed. Do not use canvas panels as those are cheap alternatives to stretched canvas that will warp when pour painting. 

Canvas panels are thinner than stretched canvas. They are made out of a lightweight board with a layer of canvas glued to it.  

Stretch canvas are canvas that have been stretched over a wooden frame and stapled on the back of the frame. 

Final Thoughts

All of the brands mentioned above have some awesome canvases. Once in a while someone might get a bad batch. If you end up in that position, just reach out to their customer service. They seem to be pretty good at helping their customers with a refund or replacement.

Also keep in mind that the best canvas for you will depend on your level of skills and the feel you want to give your painting.

What is best for me might not be the best for you, so feel free to switch from one brand to another if you are not happy with your results.

I hope this guide was helpful! Until next time, Keep Living Life One Pour at a Time!