I want to stretch my own canvases...need some advice on supplies?

Question

I need to get a bunch wood and cut it down and then I need to get a roll of canvas, is that something I can buy at a fabric store? Or do I need to get it at an art store? It seems like it would be a lot cheaper to get it at a fabric store.

Also what type of wood should I get? Does it matter? I want something that is about 3 inches thick.

Also I saw a lot of artists are actually stretching on linen too....is linen good for acrylics? Which is better and which is cheaper? I assume linen is thinner than canvas and has a different texture. How would you treat the linen?

Answer 1

Splurge on some canvas pliers. They will save you countless hours. Try buying from an Awning shop...they have rolls of all weights of canvas. Experiment with various weights until you find the one that suits your style. Remember to route an edge to lift the canvas off the wood to avoid an outline of the stretcher bar to come through on the surface when you paint.

Answer 2

Different wood has different qualities. I think most people use pine, cause its cheap and easy to work with. You will need to cut the lengths in 45 degree angles to form a 90 degree corner. As for canvas, people use it because it is rigid. Fabric store may have it cheaper than an art store, but look around, even on the internet. But you can make any fabric rigid by appling paint to it. You can be arty and use bedsheets, old curtains. The rigid part is to make it easier to paint upon, and why cloth? Lightweight.

Answer 3

Also I saw a lot of artists are actually stretching on linen too....is linen good for acrylics?

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Whatever fabric surface you paint on has been prepared with acrylic gesso to begin with; however, the concern over fabric canvas (compared to prepared board or synthetic fibers) is that it is greatly affected by temperature and humidity. Apparently, gluing the fabirc to a hard surface rather than stretching it gives it greater permanence.



You need to size the fabric before stretching it. Also, got a staple gun? And, large canvases need extra cross beams for stability.