GROUNDS for watercolor- experimenting!

[SLF]

George-Thank you for the absorbent clay ground recipes (listed under Oils).

I was looking to use a clay ground on stretched canvas (although I can make the concession later if need be to using canvas on panels),
however I want to use watercolor NOT OIL.

Does the final coat OF CLAY GROUND need to be sealed with something? I would love to have a finish like that of clay board or aqua-bord without additional primers.

I have been using an acrylic-based ground product as the final coat on Golden’s absorbant ground- (it needed it or bleeding occurred).

The pre-stretched canvas (which I have boxes of)is already primed with the usual acrylic ground- However, wouldn't sanding that down open up the pores enough to allow the clay ground to stick? I can experiment with it.For instance, I noticed a few other possibilities as with the Bole/ground for gilding:

1.acrylic size could be mixed with clay (saw your products: Rolco Size, Kolner Colnasize)

2.clay put down over damp acrylic size

3.clay put down over damp Golden's Absorbant ground

4.Maybe the flour acts as a paste/glue?

of course the simpler the better

[George O'Hanlon]

The clay ground does not and should not be sealed (unless you need to reduce its absorbency). It defeats the purpose of a clay ground to seal it and thereby lose its absorbency.

I am not certain about the adhesion of a clay ground to a previously primed canvas. Test it by applying a coat of the ground over the priming and then bending to see if it cracks and /or delaminates.

[SLF]

THANKS GEORGE

I will order the materials to try the clay ground recipe.

I am going to give it a go on canvas (pre-stretched and acrylic gesso applied) and see if it will adhere.

I will let you know how that experiment works out- wish me luck!

[aikanae2]

It's been almost a year now and I was wondering how the asorbant clay ground on canvas worked with watercolor since I'd like something similar.

[rkocharian]

Watercolor on clay ground sounds interesting.
Tintoretto in the Scuola di San Rocco painted with colors mixed with size.
There should be differences the way acrylic gesso, clay ground or traditional gesso ground would behave. What type of watercolors are you going to use?

Rubik

[aikanae2]

I use a mixed variety of brands, if that's what you mean. I look for effect and will blend acrylic emulsion in on occasion. I like the watercolor canvas that's appeared on the market but I don't like the way the commercial watercolor versions are stretched and would rather do my own. I haven't tryed dry pigments yet, but I'm about to.

I've even considered soaking and grinding up watercolor paper into a paste and adding it to traditional gesso to discover the result.

[rkocharian]

aikanae
What made you to come to this experiments/ideas?
Why watercolor if you are going to mix it with acrylics? What type of watercolor canvases are you going to make on your own? Why to soak some commercial watercolor paper in to a paste and add it to a gesso? Is it based on knowledge of existing historical examples or it's entirely up to your experimental thinking? Have you discussed it with George or some other knowledgable person?
Rubik