Are You Painting on the Right Side of the Canvas?

In the Painting Forum Marisol has posted a question I'm sure many others have pondered:

"How to tell which is the right side of your canvas to paint on?"

She explains:

"I am halfway through a reallly nice painting and have been struggling, trying to get a smooth look. After feeling a dozen other canvases, I've finally came to the conclusion that I am painting on the wrong side. ... I hate to start over but it is sure rough and hard to get a nice smooth texture."

Like any fabric, canvas has a slightly smoother and slightly rougher side created through the weaving of the threads to make the fabric. If you were sewing, the former would be the "right" side and the latter the "wrong", but if you're painting it doesn't matter which you use, only which you prefer.

Multiple layers of gesso will smooth down the weave of the canvas, especially if you sand each layer before applying a new one. Starrpoint suggests marking a roll of canvas so you know which side you prefer when you use the next piece. Join the discussion here...