A Guide to Creating Your Own Canvases

An example of assembled stretcher bars and artist canvas

Using pre-stretched, store-bought canvas offers a convenient and fast option for many artists, though it has its limitations. You might choose to stretch your own canvas to achieve more control or create a custom canvas when you are unable to find the desired size.

Initially, stretching your own canvas can be somewhat difficult as you learn the details of canvas, stretcher bars, and primers. In this introduction, I’ll outline the key elements so you can make informed choices about what suits you best.

DIY stretching artist canvas - Types and weights of canvas

When considering canvases, the weight is a primary factor. Canvas weight indicates the fabric's thickness and density, usually expressed in ounces per square yard (oz/yd²) or grams per square meter (gsm). Typical weights range from lightweight (6-8 oz/yd²) to heavyweight (12-15 oz/yd²), with various options in between.

Linen and cotton are popular materials for painting surfaces. Linen canvas is favoured for its durability, longevity, and smooth texture, making it a top choice for professional artists. Cotton canvas is more cost-effective and versatile, offering a wide array of textures and finishes.

Lightweight canvas is perfect for smaller pieces, studies, or sketches, providing ease of handling and flexibility. Medium-weight canvas offers a balance between stability and ease of use, suitable for most painting techniques. Heavyweight canvas delivers greater durability and stability for larger works or heavy painting methods.

You have several high-quality brands to select from, including ARTFIX French linen, CLAESSENS Belgium linen, BELLE ARTI Italian linen and cotton, and JACKSONS Indian cotton to name but a few.

I know a local artist who obtains old French heavy-duty linen bed sheets from local boot sales and antique fairs to create his extra-large canvases. This approach is not for the faint-hearted but offers a more affordable alternative to purchasing canvas from specialized art supply stores.

Different types and weights of canvas

Benefits of Artists' Canvas Compared to General Purpose

Although general-purpose canvas might be suitable for casual or beginner projects, artists' canvas provides several benefits that enhance the quality and durability of your work. Artists' canvas is made with greater precision and consistency, with more attention to the surface weave and texture.

The surface of artists' canvas is generally smoother and more uniform than that of general-purpose canvas, offering a better base for paint layers. Furthermore, store-bought artists' canvas is often pre-primed with gesso, allowing you to start painting right after purchase.

Stretcher Bars

Canvas should be stretched over stretcher bars mainly to establish surface tension, ensuring a smooth and tight painting surface that avoids sagging or buckling. Stretcher bars also provide support and stability, preventing warping or distortion over time. A stretched canvas can be easily framed or displayed without extra mounting, with the edges either painted or wrapped around the sides of the stretcher bars for a complete presentation.

Stretcher bars

When buying stretcher bars for stretching your DIY artist canvas , there are several important factors to keep in mind. High-quality, artist-grade stretchers are crafted from kiln-dried wood such as pine, fir, or cedar and should be straight without any warping or twisting. The thickness varies from 3/4 inch (Standard) to 2 inches (Heavyweight); select a thickness that matches the size and weight of your canvas. Also, consider the stretcher bar profile, whether it's standard, gallery wrap, or deep edge, based on your aesthetic preferences and framing needs. Stretchers are designed with mortise and tenon or finger-jointed corners for easy assembly and come with keys to adjust tension.

Required tools and equipment

Besides your canvas and stretcher bars, you probably already have most of the necessary tools lying around the house. These include:

• A rubber or plastic mallet or hammer and block of scrap wood, the latter item being to protect the stretcher bar from dents

• A tape measure

• A pencil and straight edge to mark where to cut the canvas to the size you require

• A utility knife or sharp fabric scissors

• A pair of canvas pliers to pull the canvas tight

• A heavy-duty electric or manual stapler gun

• A staple lifter to remove staples to adjust the canvas tension

• A tack hammer

Basic canvas pliers

Priming the Canvas

After stretching the canvas, it must be primed with gesso to guarantee long-lasting paint adhesion. Gesso, composed of chalk, gypsum, and a binder, is applied to the canvas surface to establish a smooth, absorbent base for painting. This process primes and seals the fabric, stopping the paint from penetrating the canvas fibers. Additionally, it offers a textured surface for better paint adhesion and layering.

Acrylic Gesso

Acrylic gesso is now the favoured option for priming canvas because of its adaptability, flexibility, and long-lasting nature. In contrast to traditional gesso, which is made with animal (usually rabbit) glue, and gypsum, acrylic gesso consists of acrylic polymer emulsion and calcium carbonate.

Acrylic gesso dries rapidly and offers a flexible yet robust surface that prevents cracking, yellowing, and flaking as time passes. Furthermore, it can be tinted or textured to meet individual artistic tastes, providing various possibilities.

Traditional Oil Painting Ground

For artists using oil paints, traditional oil painting ground, also known as oil primer, provides several benefits over acrylic gesso. Oil primer is generally made from a blend of linseed oil, pigment, and additives like lead carbonate or titanium dioxide. This combination creates an absorbent surface that facilitates strong adhesion, smooth blending, glazing, and impasto techniques.

Before applying oil primer, the canvas must be sized with polyvinyl acetate (PVA) sizing. PVA sizing acts as a barrier between the canvas and the oil ground, reducing the risk of deterioration and ensuring the longevity of your artwork.

Explore & Experiment

Using the appropriate materials, creating your own canvas can be fulfilling and offers a precision that is hard to match with pre-stretched and pre-primed canvases.

Spend some time experimenting with various canvas weights, stretchers, and primers to find what suits you and your painting style best.

Do you stretch your own canvas? Tell me about your experiences!