

The frame of the canvas is important, especially for larger pieces. A canvas will state whether it is primed or not on the label. A good canvas will also be primed with gesso, allowing the paint to sit on top of the canvas and not immediately soak into the fibers. A loosely stretched canvas is the worst! There are some tricks to get a loose canvas pulled tight after purchasing, such as spraying the back with water and letting it dry in the sun, but it’s best to purchase a canvas that is already tight as a drum. A good canvas will be tight, but will not tear in the corners where it’s wrapped. What makes a great canvas?Īll the best canvases share the same qualities tightly wrapped, a good solid structure, and in general, they are made with high quality materials. Because of their archival quality, a gallery would not hesitate to accept a work created on a canvas. More choices means more possibilities! Canvases have stood the test of time, again, making them a very desirable option for artists. This is revolutionary for artists everywhere! Instead of only having square and rectangle options, artists now have even more variety to choose from for their art. Recently, I have discovered that some brands even make circle and oval canvases. All you need is a hammer and a nail or two whereas with paper pieces, you or your collector will need to purchase a frame before you are able to hang up the masterpiece. You can choose to hang it directly on the wall or put a wire on the back of the canvas. The wooden frame also makes the canvas very easy to hang. Larger canvases usually will have horizontal bars going through the center of the canvas to keep the wood from getting all funky. Because stretched canvases have a wooden structure/skeleton underneath, it makes them very sturdy.
#Standard paint canvas sizes professional#
You can get higher grade canvases made specifically for professional artists in designated art supply stores. Many craft stores sell canvases, but usually a lower grade canvas. Canvases are pretty much the gold standard when it comes to surfaces to paint on. They are easily accessible, professional, sturdy, easy to hang on the wall, and they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Why should you use canvas?Īrtists all over the world use canvas for many reasons. Linen is a more expensive, but smoother and higher quality material. But what is it exactly? Canvas material for painting is fabric made up of either cotton threads, or linen, all woven together for either a coarse or smooth texture. Usually found wrapped around a wooden frame and hung up on a wall, canvas is a very popular surface artists paint on.
#Standard paint canvas sizes how to#
Here we have broken down the process of how to choose the right canvas for your next show-stopping creation.

In today’s art world, there is such a wide variety of canvas choices, sizes, surfaces, etc., it can seem like an overwhelming task to choose your starting point. Originating from sailcloth, canvas has become an artform in and of itself. It is the main surface artists paint and create on today, as it has been for quite some time.
