by 
The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Water Harms Canvas
According to Rex Art Supplies, artists should never saturate the canvas with water before stretching, but using a damp sponge to touch up wrinkles on a stretched canvas is acceptable. Saturating a primed canvas will wash off the primer; saturating an unprimed canvas will cause the canvas to shrink unevenly.
On the Other: Canvas Requires Priming
Canvas needs a layer of primer--also called gesso--before beginning to paint on it; without this initial layer of glue mixed with plaster or chalk, the paint will seep through the fabric. Although Rex Art Supplies reports that it is easier to stretch unprimed canvas, it is difficult to apply primer evenly on a stretched piece of raw canvas.
Bottom Line
Canvas does not require washing before stretching it for a painting; however, a stretched canvas does require priming before beginning to paint.
Source:
Rex Art Supplies: How to Stretch Artists' Canvas
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