RE: can you scorch paper/canvas if you shoot it at close range?
You might try a paperthin layer of parifin between layers of paint, but you wiil either have to do it on the spot you are shooting or handle it with a great deal of care,
Also for burning effect try making a wad of torlet paper we used that method for making blanks for parades in the 60's and the powder comes out the muzzle burning and makes a nice long flash . Lee