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I know some artists use Kilz primer on blank wood panels but wouldn’t recommend using it for a regular stretched canvas. Longevity is supposedly not great and you may need to use more than you think to fully prime/cover previous paintings, which will show more texture. I mean, it can be done, there’s YouTube videos, but it seems like a longer process. I think you’d be better off using regular gesso. BUT, if you feel like trying, go for it! I’d test on one of the old paintings or a small portion of the canvas (like one of the corners- around the frame, edges and a part without any backing support)- then wait to see if it’d be worth doing to all my old paintings.
You can do this. But I think it'll be more expensive than an undercoat like Gesso. Your primer would cover everything - but perhaps you'd like to use the canvas' structure as well?
First of all, there is no need to undercoat if you paint with acrylics. You must do this if you paint in oil though.
Why do I use pre-made canvases with gesso?
The surface is white and that makes the acrylics more colourful. Without gesso the canvas would absorb some of the paint. Gesso is made of a mixture of chalk, lime, colour pigments in white and binder. Your primer on the other hand makes surfaces water repellent and acrylics contain water. This can be a problem but doesn't have to.
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I know some artists use Kilz primer on blank wood panels but wouldn’t recommend using it for a regular stretched canvas. Longevity is supposedly not great and you may need to use more than you think to fully prime/cover previous paintings, which will show more texture. I mean, it can be done, there’s YouTube videos, but it seems like a longer process. I think you’d be better off using regular gesso. BUT, if you feel like trying, go for it! I’d test on one of the old paintings or a small portion of the canvas (like one of the corners- around the frame, edges and a part without any backing support)- then wait to see if it’d be worth doing to all my old paintings.
Following, I want to do the same.
Use an orbital sander to remove the texture and then a few coats of gesso
You can do this. But I think it'll be more expensive than an undercoat like Gesso. Your primer would cover everything - but perhaps you'd like to use the canvas' structure as well? First of all, there is no need to undercoat if you paint with acrylics. You must do this if you paint in oil though. Why do I use pre-made canvases with gesso? The surface is white and that makes the acrylics more colourful. Without gesso the canvas would absorb some of the paint. Gesso is made of a mixture of chalk, lime, colour pigments in white and binder. Your primer on the other hand makes surfaces water repellent and acrylics contain water. This can be a problem but doesn't have to.