Stretching Canvas Painting

If the painting will be stretched later remember to allow for part of the canvas going over the edge of the stretcher bars when finalizing the composition.

Stretching canvas painting.

The canvas skin becomes the foundation for a painting and it s the ground that everything is built upon. This should match the painting artwork colour scheme. A stretched canvas is a finished product where a canvas painting or a canvas print has been stretched around stretcher bars. Stretching a canvas can be daunting at first but it s a lot easier than it seems.

Grip the folded over edge of the canvas to be secured to the stretcher bar in the center with the canvas stretching pliers and gently pull until the canvas is pulled taut. If painting is a modern painting it is can be a modern flat frame profile. Start with the longest side of the canvas closest to you and fold it in. Every painter is familiar with a stretched canvas.

There is a risk of paint buckling cracking and warping when stretching is done after the fact. Stretching the canvas after the painting is finished is certainly possible but it s not easy. Does gesso shrink canvas. Line up the frame so that the molding is against the canvas.

Some people prefer unstretched canvas for the flexibility of being able to frame it to their needs. Our diy stretcher bars are specifically designed to stretch canvas without the need for any tools. Insert three staples in the center of that side of the frame along the bottom edge of the frame. Stretching the canvas after the painting is finished.

In other words you want to wrap the canvas all the way around the bar and start fixing it onto the bottom edge of the frame. If necessary tap the corners gently on a carpet or with a rubber hammer be careful not to dent the wood. Staple the canvas edge in the center and repeat the process working back and forth on either side of the first staple until the edge is completely secured to the stretcher bar. It s a simple structure of cotton duck stretched from the four sides into a taught epidermis.

To stretch this pull one side of the canvas up and around and staple it in the center of that side. The 4x stretcher bars are pre cut and the notches are built so that the wood pieces slip perfectly into one another. It supports the gesso the paint the oil or acrylic mediums and finally an optional varnish. Direct framing canvas painting stretching and framing it directly is the simplest to start.

I don t recommend doing it yourself unless you are very skilled at stretching canvases. The contemporary painting can use curve or design frame. Unstretched or rolled canvas is easier to transport or ship. Stretch the longest sides of the canvas first.

Steps for stretching your own canvas the first step is to join the stretchers. Lay them out on the floor then push the corners together by hand.