Linda Mann Artist

Now that my canvas has arrived, it’s time to begin!

First, I must transfer my pencil sketch onto the canvas. I trace my sketch onto a sheet of tracing paper.

Then I rub pencil onto the back of the traced drawing. This will act as carbon paper.

I now tape this carbon paper right side up onto my canvas.

I trace the lines with a 2H pencil.

My drawing is now transferred to the canvas.

Inevitably, all of this tracing distorts the original image. I have to spend some time now correcting any errors that have crept into the image. Here’s a detail of the canvas with the drawing transferred onto it and corrected.

I lightly spray some fixative on the drawing so the pencil won’t smear into the oil paint. Now I can begin my underpainting.