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Oil Ground Preparation

Build a Surface Worthy of a Masterpiece

 A great painting starts long before the first brushstroke.

In this course, you’ll learn how to prepare a professional oil ground on linen — the same process used by the Old Masters to create surfaces that last for centuries.

Make Canvas Like the Old Masters Today

 

What You’ll Learn

 

âś… Mixing and applying a traditional oil ground in two layers
âś… Drying times, color, and layering
✅ Canvas stretching 

Why It Matters

 

Most modern canvases are mass-produced and unstable.


A hand-prepared oil ground gives your painting the luminous depth, permanence, and tactile quality that no acrylic-primed surface can match.

If you’ve ever wondered why Old-Master paintings still glow centuries later — this is where that magic begins.

 

Course Includes

  • Step-by-step video demonstrations
  • Material list & supplier recommendations
  • Printable checklist for each stage
  • Lifetime access to all lessons and future updates

 

Oil Ground Preparation

  1. Overview & Materials

    3 lessons
    1. Materials Checklist for Oil Ground Preparation
    2. Materials Checklist for Canvas Stretching
    3. Overview: The Full Process in 5 Minutes

  2. Stretching Linen

    3 lessons
    1. Stretching Linen
    2. The Drum Test
    3. Stretching the Perfect Canvas (Short Video)

  3. Oil Ground Preparation

    3 lessons
    1. Oil Ground Preparation Layer 1
    2. Oil Ground Preparation Layer 2
    3. How Does Fat Over Lean Apply to Oil Ground?

 

Meet Your Instructor

Nic Thurman
Classical oil painter and founder of Kitsch Town Live, trained under Odd Nerdrum.
Nic has prepared hundreds of canvases for multi-layered works using traditional, solvent-free methods that preserve the glow and longevity of oil paint.

 

 

Enroll Now

 

Start Oil Ground Preparation — Access Included with Kitsch Town Live