Tuesday, November 11, 2008

What will your frame look like finished?

Ok, the pictures are in. I hope this will help you picture what I am explaining! Here we go!

Phase 2: Building the Frame
Tools Needed: Wood, wood glue, hammer, nails, sand paper, tape measure, red marker

Positioning the wood

What will it look like finished?
Ok, the first step in the phase is placing the wood pieces in the way you want the frame to look.

1. The best way to do this is to find a large area up against a very solid wall and lay the wood pieces in the dimensions and shape of the end product. Place the pieces with the best sides of the wood all facing the same direction. That will be the side that faces the canvas. Tip* Remember to always measure the frame prior to nailing it together. That way you will be sure to nail it together in the dimensions you were making.

2. Put a small amount of wood glue on the piece of wood that is being nailed into the other piece of wood.

3. Take 2 nails and hammer them into the pieces of wood with the glue on it. It is best to nail in a slight diagonal manner. Tip* Make sure the wood stays in a square position and is level & flat throughout the process. I will usually put 1 foot on each piece of wood to help keep it from moving while I hammer. Hammer both sides together, then move it to the back and do the other 2 sides.

4. Once the 4 pieces are nailed together, put in the brace. Measure the side and place the brace or braces (depending on size of canvas) in the middle. EXAMPLE: For a 24inch frame, brace would be at 12inches. For a 60inch canvas, the 2 braces would be at 20inch spaces.

5. Allow the wood glue to dry for 24 hours, then take sand paper and smooth out the corners, seems, and edges.

You’re almost finished! The last step is the canvas. Until next time...Enjoy the process!

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Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Tips to picking out your canvas

What width do I purchase the rolled canvas, and from where do I purchase the canvas? Questions that are going through your head, I bet. It can be confusing and overwhelming if you don't know where to begin. Step three in the canvas stretching process is your canvas choice.

As far as the choice of canvas goes, you have either primed or unprimed, as well as, cotton or linen. Primed means that gesso has already been applied. Unprimed means raw canvas with nothing on it. Depending on your project, you’ll need to determine what works best for you. I know of artists that never prime their canvas, however; they rarely use paint. Paint is liquid and will bleed through that is why it needs to be primed prior. I recommend buying a small piece of both primed and unprimed canvas and stretching both and see what you like best. Remember though, that the unprimed will need to be gessoed prior to the actual painting. That is an added step and cost. Once you have chosen which style you prefer then decide whether you like cotton or linen best. I find that cotton works best for me and is always reasonably priced.


Canvas comes in many widths from approximately 52 inches to 144 inches wide and in lengths from 6 yards to 100 yards. The width usually depends on the size of the piece you are going to paint. The bigger you go, the wider it needs to be. I suggest not going too big on your first few till you get the hang of the process. I would recommend going a little smaller in length till you decide what you like work with the best. You don’t want to be stuck with 50 yards on canvas that is hard to stretch.


Now that you have decided on the canvas selection, it is best to buy it in bulk. It is less costly and you will have more freedom. Research your local art shops as they frequently have sales and that is a great opportunity to stock up. I usually purchase it online and have it shipped. For me, it is the most cost effective with the choice and width I prefer. I purchase from Blick Art Materials for all my canvas needs. Dick Blick frequently has sales and a great selection of canvas both primed and unprimed cotton and linen in various widths. It may take time, but you will find what works best for you. Enjoy the process!

Fantastic! Now that you have made all your choices, you are ready to begin the next phase in this process.

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What are the Type of Nails to Use When Stretching Your Own Canvas?

When I am stretching my own canvases, the right nails makes the job so much easier and makes the canvas look more professional. When you walk into the hardware store and see this in front of you, I bet you think "Holy Smokes! Which do I choose? Well, here are a few quick tips for you, when picking out the best nails for stretching your own canvas.



Picking out your nails & staples


The second step in How to Stretch Your own Canvas is the choice of the nails you plan to use for the frame, braces, and stretching the canvas to the frame. Depending on the size of the wood you pick for the frame, the nails will vary. The wider you go the longer the nails need to be. The same goes for the braces. The canvas however, uses completely different nails. Usually I find that a staple gun and staples work best.

1) For the Frame: Frame nails need a larger head which is easier to hit when hammering the wood together. A good size that works well for me is 3 inch Electro Galvanized Roofing nails and they come in various lengths depending on the wood size you are using. Try different nails and sizes and see what works best for your canvas.












2) For the Brace: Brace nails are usually a little smaller with a smaller head as they have a smaller area to go through. The best nail I have found for this is the 3 inch Bright Finish nails. These also come in different lengths depending on your wood. Once more, experiment with different nails and see what works best for you and your canvas.














3) For the Canvas: When attaching the canvas to the frame, depending on the look you want to achieve, there are various nails and staples that work great. You can use a staple gun that uses either industrial staples or nails or small nails. For me, I have found that the use of a staple gun and staples works best and can hold the canvas much tighter than staple gun nails or traditional nails, as well as, easier to work with. The best rule of thumb though is to see what works and feels best for you.


Now that you have your wood and nails chosen, the next step it choosing the canvas you like best. That's coming up next! Until then...Enjoy the Process!

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