Q: A heavier weight indicates a better quality canvas. Look at the back of the canvas. The darker it is, the better the canvas. The weight is determined by thread density, which also affects the texture. A smooth texture results from a higher thread count, while a lower thread count results in a rougher texture. Higher quality canvasses will also have more wood pieces across the back. Instead of just the outer frame, they'll often have bars across the middle, as well. When you're first starting out, canvas boards may be a better option. They're an affordable way to get practice in. You'll be more likely to experiment because you won't be as worried about "ruining" more expensive canvas. Start by lightly sanding the canvas with fine 200-grit sandpaper to smooth out the top threads, and then brush off the dust with a soft cloth. Paint the gesso on the canvas with a large brush meant for house paint, using strokes in a single direction. Let the canvas dry for an hour. If the gesso goes off the edges, use a smaller brush to pull it back on the canvas. If you want to add another layer of gesso, lightly sand down the canvas with a fine sandpaper, then wipe off any dust. Paint another layer in the opposite direction. You can repeat these steps as desired, sanding between each layer. Gesso is a primer for canvas used for acrylics. While most store-bought canvas is primed already, if you want a smoother effect, you can apply more yourself. If you purchase pre-primed canvas, buy the kind intended for acrylics. To complete a painting, you'll need a basecoat brush that is about 2 inches (5.1cm) or so, angled brushes, a 1 inch (2.5cm) flat or bright brush, and round brushes in various sizes. As an easy way to get what you need, choose a variety pack of paintbrushes that are of decent quality. Synthetic brushes are a better choice because they are softer than more natural brushes, making it easier to use them with acrylics. A charcoal pencil is also helpful for sketching on the canvas. If you're just starting out, student-grade acrylics will work just fine, as they're the cheaper option. However, for better pigment and more consistent color, professional- or artist-grade paints are a better choice. You can find both at art supply stores. Professional- or artist-grade paints tend to be thicker so you get more coverage in one go. Plus, you can use them to create texture. Start with primary colors (red, yellow, blue), secondary colors (purple, orange, green), black, and white. When you're painting, you don't want to keep recreating colors or wasting paint each day. A covered palette keeps your paint wet, allowing you to use it again another day. Try arranging your colors according to the rainbow, so you can easily find each color. Remember ROYGBIV, or red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Don't forget to add white and black, too. Mix colors in the center of the palette using a palette knife. Try adding a gray waxed blending sheet in the middle for a neutral background. For a cheaper option, paint a piece of wood grey. When you need to leave the paints, mist both the paints and the inside of a plastic container with water. Cover the paints using the upside-down container, and place something heavy on top to seal it. Protect your table with plastic, such as polyethylene, which you can get at a hardware store. Lay it out and tape it down. Have a small bucket of water nearby to clean out your paint brushes. Pick out just what you want to use each day, including your paints and brushes. If you don't want to buy polyethylene, use trash bags or newspapers.
A: Pick canvasses with a weight of 8 to 10oz (230 to 280g) per 1 yard (0.91m). Smooth the canvas with sandpaper and gesso for more absorbency. Purchase a variety of brushes made for acrylics. Pick professional- or artist-grade paint for more consistency. Organize your paints in a covered paint palette. Set up a work area with your brushes, paint, and water.

Q: A flipbook consists of a number of sheets of paper, usually bound at one edge, that creates the illusion of motion when you grasp the opposite edge with your thumb and flip through the pages. The more sheets of paper in the flipbook, the more realistic the motion appears to be. (A live-action motion picture uses 24 frames/images for each second, while most animated cartoons use 12.) You can make the actual book one of several ways: Staple or bind sheets of typing or construction paper together. Use a notepad. Use a pad of sticky notes. You can make the images in your flipbook animation one of several ways: Draw them by hand. If you do this, start with simple images (stick figures) and backgrounds and gradually tackle more complex drawings. You'll need to take care that the backgrounds are consistent from page to page to avoid a jittery appearance when you flip the pages. Photographs. You can take a number of digital photos, then print them out on sheets of paper and bind them together, or use a software application to create a digital flipbook. It's easiest to do this if your camera has a burst picture mode that lets you take a number of pictures as you hold down the button. Digital video. Some newlywed couples choose to create coffee-table flipbooks of their wedding, using a portion of the video shot during their wedding. Extracting individual video frames requires using a computer and video editing software, and many couples choose to upload their videos to online companies such as FlipClips.com. If you've been hand-drawing the images in an already-bound notepad, the assembly is done for you. Otherwise, arrange the images with the first image at the bottom of the stack and the last image at the top and bind the sheets together. You may want to experiment with leaving out or rearranging a few of the images to make the animation appear jerkier or change the animation pattern before you bind the book together. Bend the pages upward with your thumb and release them at an even speed. You should see a moving image. Pen-and-ink animators use a similar technique with preliminary drawings before coloring and inking them. They lay them one on top of each other, first to last, then hold down one of the edges as they flip through the drawings.
A:
Get a number of sheets of paper you can flip through. Create the individual images. Assemble the images together. Flip through the pages.