Canvas Painting For
Beginners: How To Stretch A
New Canvas
Painters can either learn how to stretch
their own canvas or buy them ready made. The advantage of
buying pre-stretched and mounted canvas is that it saves
time. The disadvantages include higher cost, it takes up a
lot more room while transporting and storing and you have
to settle for the standard sizes. This article will provide
simple instructions and tips for stretching your own
canvas.
The Materials Needed
The most common canvas materials are cotton (called
Cotton Duck) or linen. Cotton is generally less expensive
than linen and has a rougher surface. Cotton is also more
inclined to warp from moisture which can ruin a painting by
causing the paint to chip and crack. Linen, however, has
stronger threads that resist pulling apart after being
stretched on a frame. This makes it more suitable for long
term archiving. Both materials are commonly available at
most local art supply stores. Heavy unbleached calico from
a fabric store will often do the trick and for less
money.
The frame is usually made out of wood and comes from the
factory with the four sides separated. The ends of the
frame pieces are cut into a kind of tongue and groove
fashion so that they fit together solidly by friction
instead of with nails or staples.
Frames come in two basic strengths. Thinner, narrower
sides are the least expensive and are suitable for
paintings that have their longest side no longer than 25”.
For larger projects, wider and thicker wood sides are
available and recommended.
The Instructions
1. Gather the following tools; staple gun,
staples, scissors or exacto knife to cut the canvas, canvas
pliers (optional) and a rubber hammer (optional). If you
don’t wish to purchase a soft rubber hammer just make sure
that while assembling the frame that you do not pound
directly on the wood with a regular nail hammer without
something to buffer the blows.
2. Assemble the frame. This is really straight
forward in that the ends fit together with friction.
Resting the pieces on a carpeted floor and using a rubber
hammer to pound the corners together will prevent gouging
the wood. Some artists prefer to add a few drops of white
wood working glue into the corners before fitting. This
provides a more solid connection for the long haul.
However, if you are using the frame only temporarily while
painting and intent to remove the canvas and disassemble
then do not glue.
3. Cut the canvas to fit the frame. Lay the
assembled frame flat and measure the length and width. Each
of these dimensions should include enough extra length for
the canvas to wrap around to the back of the frame for
stapling. Cut the canvas to these dimensions using heavy
duty scissors or an exacto knife.
4. Staple and stretch the canvas over the frame.
Start by wrapping the top of the cut canvas around the top
of the assembled frame. Put about three staples through the
canvas in the middle of the back of the top frame piece.
The staples should be about 2” apart. Always work from the
center of the frame sides out when stapling. Next, stretch
the canvas to the bottom of the frame and staple in the
middle of that frame side. Repeat on the left and right
sides. At this point the canvas should have three staples
in the center of each frame side.
Next stretch one side from the middle staples to one
corner and staple. Move across to the opposing frame side
and stretch from the middle to the diagonally opposite
corner and staple. Repeat this until all parts of all frame
pieces have been stretched. Finally fold the loose material
at each corner neatly and staple in place.
The final step is to prime to canvas before painting.
This neutralizes the natural canvas color, creates a
smoother texture and prevents the paint from soaking into
the material. However, this topic is too involved to
address in detail in this article.
Even if you have the resources to buy ready made canvas
it is wise at first to develop an understanding of this
process and how it can impact the final painting by
learning how to stretch your own canvas.
First Place Rating
of 9.8 out of 10
According to the publisher
of the
Learn And Master Painting course, it is designed to be
the most thorough, logical and easy to understand way to
learn oil, acrylic and water mixable oil painting no matter
your present 
level of skills or talent. During this course, the
student will create several complete paintings from start
to finish.
Who Will Benefit Most From This Painting
Course?
This dvd lesson set is
geared for rank beginners with no experience or formal
training through accomplished painters that wish to round
out their knowledge base and benefit from the advanced
lessons.
Also, children starting at an age of 8 to 10 years old,
with a little set-up help from an adult, should be able to
learn from the dvd set on their own.
About The Instructor Gayle
Levee (Pronounced Le Vay)
Gayle was born into a family of artists and knew from
the young age of five years old that she wanted to draw.
This award winning artist was formally educated
at....more
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positives, negatives, lesson topics, painting styles and
price please click here Learn &
Master Painting full review
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