Stretching a canvas is not necessarily fun nor easy, but investing in your work from the canvas up, is immensely rewarding. I do use ready-made canvas’ myself, but it is never as gratifying as making my own. In this example the finished piece we are making is 2.5′ x 5′ and the canvas material has been recycled from a different painting I never completed. Here we go, on our hands and knees!
You will need:
Un-primed Canvas Material
Wood
Drill, drill bit, clamps, wood glue, screw driver, rust-proof screws
Staple gun, staples, hammer
Step One: Cut the Canvas
Canvas Material can generally be purchased at a fabric store or art supply store. Get more than you need and allow it to be at least a foot wider and longer than the finished size. Bigger is better as you can always trim it. Cut or rip your piece of Canvas to size. Leave a good amount of extra material, 6-8 inches or so around all sides.
Step Two: Make the Frame
The size of the wood can vary, depending on the size of the canvas you are making. I typically use 2″x2″ pieces for frames ranging from 2′ – 7′. When cutting the wood to size, be [...] Continue Reading…
