::VERONICA FUNK::
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Portraits >
      • Woman's Work
      • Extraordinary Women
      • The Grandmothers
      • Wunderland
      • Nasty Women
      • Heroes
      • Ahead of Their Time
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Wildlife
      • Wildflowers
      • Storytellers
      • Gratitude
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Altered Books
    • Free Art Resources
  • Galleries
  • eCourses
  • Login
    • Painting Animals
    • Painting Art Journals
    • Painting Backgrounds
    • Painting Bees
    • Painting Canoes
    • Painting CityScapes
    • Painting Flowers
    • Painting Hearts & Houses
    • Painting Landscapes
    • Painting Portraits
  • Contact

How to Stretch Canvas

6/14/2012

 
Picture
Back in my art school days one of my favorite tasks was stretching canvas.  I loved the smell of the wood shop, it reminded me of home, and the physical activity of getting down and stretching the canvas.  We also made our own gesso (canvas primer), though I've long forgotten the recipe and would love to do so again.  After college, I used to stretch my own canvases all the time and enjoyed doing it - I felt even more connected to the work because I did it all myself.  Though I no longer cut the stretcher bars for the frame, I still like to stretch my own canvases on occasion which comes in handy, especially when I have a commission for an unusual size.  I prefer using 10 oz raw canvas and stretching with my fingers instead of using canvas pliers as I like a little give in the canvas while I paint and I find that once I gesso it, the canvas does pull tighter to the frame. 

NOTE:  If you have a stretched canvas, even one that's been painted on, and it loosens or bulges you may be able to tighten it by spraying the back of the canvas with water and allowing it to dry.  There are also sprays available on the market made specifically for this (ie. Tight'N'Up Canvas Re-Tensioner).
Picture
STEP 1:  Measure up the sides and the back of the stretcher bars.  In this case, the I'm using a gallery-depth frame where the bars are 2 inches square so I measured and added 4 inches all around the canvas so that the canvas I cut measured 8 inches wider and longer than the actual size of the prepared stretcher bars.  Mark your measurements and cut out the canvas.  I like to use a framing square to create sharper corners and its weight also holds down the canvas while I mark my measurements.  Both the canvas and stretcher bars are available at most art supply stores.
Picture
STEP 2:  Center the stretcher bars on the canvas and begin by placing three staples on the center of the longest edge of your frame beginning in the middle and moving out from there.  On the opposite side pull the canvas taught and place three more staples along that edge.  Keep an eye on the entire canvas as you stretch and staple to avoid adding any wrinkles.  If you are stretching to a smaller frame, place your staples closer together.
Picture
STEP 3:  Repeat on the other two shorter sides.  Continue stapling in this fashion, adding a few staples on the longest sides and then a couple on the two shorter sides.  In this case, because two of the sides were quite a bit longer I placed two staples to the right and two to the left of the initial staples, while on the shorter sides I only placed one staple to each side of the initial staples.
Picture
STEP 4:  Continue adding a staple rotating the sides of the canvas until you are approximately 2-4 inches from the corners depending on the size of your frame.
Picture
STEP 5:  The corners are where people tend to get a bit confused but they really are quite simple once you know the technique.  I tend to do all the corners at once so that I make sure the folds are all facing the same direction.  I pull the canvas taught along the longest edge of the frame and secure it well with two staples and then place a third vertically along the edge of the frame.
Picture
STEP 6:  I then pull the canvas diagonally from the corner of the frame and across the secured staples and place another staple to hold that edge.  Be sure to pull your canvas very tight.
Picture
STEP 7:  Finally, I pull the remainder of the canvas over the frame and secure it well with two more staples.
Picture
FINISHED:  I hope this encourages you to try stretching your own canvases.
Hayden link
2/24/2014 07:40:50 pm

This is a great blog posting and very useful. I really appreciate the research you put into it.

Veronica Funk link
11/9/2017 08:28:42 am

Thanks!


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Journal
  • Portfolio
    • Curriculum Vitae
    • Portraits >
      • Woman's Work
      • Extraordinary Women
      • The Grandmothers
      • Wunderland
      • Nasty Women
      • Heroes
      • Ahead of Their Time
    • 52 WEEKS >
      • Wildlife
      • Wildflowers
      • Storytellers
      • Gratitude
    • Fashion Plates
    • Sacred Vessel
    • Simple Pleasures
    • Altered Books
    • Free Art Resources
  • Galleries
  • eCourses
  • Login
    • Painting Animals
    • Painting Art Journals
    • Painting Backgrounds
    • Painting Bees
    • Painting Canoes
    • Painting CityScapes
    • Painting Flowers
    • Painting Hearts & Houses
    • Painting Landscapes
    • Painting Portraits
  • Contact