Canvas preparation and texture with Acrylics

Many have asked me how I prepare my canvas.  I have seen people at my exhibits with their noses right up to my work.  I see that they are very curious on how I achieved the texture.   I usually take great care of how I prepare my canvas for both Oil and Acrylic paintings.   For this blog post, I will be talking about Acrylics.  I like my Acrylic paintings to look more like oils with soft edges and rich tones.  I always purchase good quality canvases with dry wood stretchers and the canvas is  wrapped   with care.  But still, I don't like the rough texture of the canvas.  So if I need a smooth surface, I will use a thick Gesso and apply three coats, gently sanding between coat once it's dry.  If I want a more textured look I will use Extra thick Gesso and use either a brush or a palette knife.  I can create so many different effects with this Gesso.
Once my canvas is ready, I use only high quality artist grade or professional Heavy Body Acrylics.  Not all Acrylics are created equal.  With the heavy body acrylics and the beautifully prepared canvas or surface, it's easy for me to blend my Acrylics by using the scumbling and dry brush technique.  I hope this has helped you and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.