Thoughts on canvas size for fine artwork (for a beginner)

[The Faceless Dutch Artist]

Good evening from the Netherlands,

When doing fine artwork with more detailed work I am sometimes struggling with getting the work in. This is can even be the case when going from a A4 to A3 canvas. I am thinking about moving to an even bigger canvas A2 or A1. However, before making the decision: do you think this can make it easier for a beginner to get more experienced with doing fine artwork? What are the pros and the cons in your experience?

 

[bex]

i find painting bigger is easier, because the small detail is able to be created with larger strokes. when you paint bigger always regularly take a stand back and look at it from the distance it will be viewed, which is the distance you eyes can see the whole picture not many are gonna get closer and zoom in on every single little detail and its so easy when painting to get lost in those small sections. by creating work bigger any small detail you put in just adds an extra level of detail but unless doing realism you don't need the whole project to be flooded with that level of detail. (if you are after realism level i think there are realism painters who have that advice better than me, im not a realism painter.) i also think use your canvas space wisely there's no point having a bigger canvas and painting a face, or a tree for example the same size you'd of painted it on a4. i also have a selection of brushes i use, im currently painting a 1meterx1meter picture and although i want detail its unlikely i'll pic up my sotar (which is my detail airbrush) because i'll just be there for weeks if i did, instead i'll use my xtreme just because it can throw out more paint and still get a good level of detail in any areas i need it. main advice is fill the space by working bigger proportions and keep regularly standing back and viewing it from the correct distance.

 

[bex]

cons of working a bigger canvas, takes longer to paint, uses so much more paint, you can get lost in the tiny details as i mention its easy to loose sight of the bigger picture. also any odditys to your design on or proportions etc are easier to spot and stand out more on a larger scale.

 

[Kingpin]

I prefer to work on bigger substrates, A3 is My usual size, I have done a couple of A2 pieces (they were movie posters)

Paintpal is great for getting You working on smaller pieces as they are 7"x5" usually

I did a piece recently for the Phoenix challenge that was A7 just to practice with tiny artworks

 

[bex]

i have seen a few airbrush artist that paint on razor blades but really detailed, that level of art blows my mind! no idea how people paint so small and detailed, to me thats so difficult to do. smallest i've painted is 4" x 4" they were large fridge magnets for a charity show, and what i painted wasn't hugely detailed, i'm amazed by people who airbrush smaller detail work. bigger is definitely easier .

 

[The Faceless Dutch Artist]

I prefer to work on bigger substrates, A3 is My usual size, I have done a couple of A2 pieces (they were movie posters)

Paintpal is great for getting You working on smaller pieces as they are 7"x5" usually

I did a piece recently for the Phoenix challenge that was A7 just to practice with tiny artworks

A7? That’s really small. What did it do for your skills? I think I would get frustrated instantly just by looking at the size

 

[The Faceless Dutch Artist]

cons of working a bigger canvas, takes longer to paint, uses so much more paint, you can get lost in the tiny details as i mention its easy to loose sight of the bigger picture. also any odditys to your design on or proportions etc are easier to spot and stand out more on a larger scale.

I can understand that. I am not that worried about the paint and time involved. I just want to make a piece while applying and training the skills I have. Thanks for pointing out that flaws also are easier to spot. I can imagine that this can be a real pain in the butt when you notice it even when stepping 2 meters away

 

[The Faceless Dutch Artist]

i find painting bigger is easier, because the small detail is able to be created with larger strokes. when you paint bigger always regularly take a stand back and look at it from the distance it will be viewed, which is the distance you eyes can see the whole picture not many are gonna get closer and zoom in on every single little detail and its so easy when painting to get lost in those small sections. by creating work bigger any small detail you put in just adds an extra level of detail but unless doing realism you don't need the whole project to be flooded with that level of detail. (if you are after realism level i think there are realism painters who have that advice better than me, im not a realism painter.) i also think use your canvas space wisely there's no point having a bigger canvas and painting a face, or a tree for example the same size you'd of painted it on a4. i also have a selection of brushes i use, im currently painting a 1meterx1meter picture and although i want detail its unlikely i'll pic up my sotar (which is my detail airbrush) because i'll just be there for weeks if i did, instead i'll use my xtreme just because it can throw out more paint and still get a good level of detail in any areas i need it. main advice is fill the space by working bigger proportions and keep regularly standing back and viewing it from the correct distance.

Thanks for sharing your view and experience Bex. It really helps putting things in perspective.

 

[Kingpin]

A7? That’s really small. What did it do for your skills? I think I would get frustrated instantly just by looking at the size

If I had any skills I am sure it would of improved them

It was just a quick tester really on black paper, I plan to go over it again to see if I can bring out the colours after seeing @Nada video that He brought out just after I finished it, I think He is stalking Me to be honest!

This was the piece...

 

[bex]

I can understand that. I am not that worried about the paint and time involved. I just want to make a piece while applying and training the skills I have. Thanks for pointing out that flaws also are easier to spot. I can imagine that this can be a real pain in the butt when you notice it even when stepping 2 meters away

theres pros and cons to working both small and large scale. keep practicing both and you'll learn which you prefer and your own pros and cons for painting these ways. even if you prefer one over the other its always good to challenge yourself and do something different to progress your own skills every once in a while to push what you can achieve.