Toning a canvas

For fast, one day paintings a toned canvas can be a real treat.  I find that toned canvases work best if the toned color is dry on the canvas before I begin my painting.  Therefore, I prefer to tone my canvases with a thin layer of acrylic because it drys so quickly and I don't have to worry about breathing in all of the fumes from the Terp. You can tone a canvas with oil color, but allow it to dry for at least a week before you intend to paint on it. 

A toned canvas is simply a canvas that has a thin (watery) layer of a single color all over it.  I like to tone several canvases at a time, and give myself multiple color options.  

Toning allows the artist to leave canvas showing without having little white dots from the canvas texture.  

• You can use a toned canvas with a color that is prevalent in your composition, uniting the whole by allowing the thin toned layer to show through dry brushed areas and stand alone shapes where it is the appropriate color and value.  
• You can also use a contrasting color as your toned base and allow for "surprise" color where it peeks through.  
• Another option is to use an Analogous tone (same family but different color, i.e. Maroon tone with pink, red and lavender flowers.  All of the colors share a red "bloodline").