Using stretched canvas reduces the chances that your artwork will be damaged as it holds the canvas in tact, and the stretching is done by cutting-edge technology rather than by hand. This is because stretched canvas is a regular canvas that has already been stretched over a stretcher and stapled to the thin wooden frame when you purchase it.

Stretched canvas is ideal for artists who don’t have the tools to stretch their own canvas. Our Jasart Canvas Panels are made from 100% cotton canvas board and are suitable for use with oils, acrylics and alkyds. Bear in mind that they don’t age well, hence why they’re good for practice. Lightweight and easy to carry, they’re also ideal for students that need to transport their art to and from school or university. Usually made from primed cotton canvas that’s mounted onto a rigid board, panels are great for finding your feet in the art world. You can opt for:įor those just starting out, canvas panels can offer a high quality, more affordable alternative to stretched canvas. The ideal weight of cotton should be between 12-15 ounces.Ĭanvases are available in various forms and the form you choose will depend on your budget, application and purpose. Weight is determined by the density of the thread, and the higher the density, the higher the quality of the canvas. However, for broad brush strokes and large sized paintings a rougher weave is ideal. Fabric, texture, weight, priming… it all has an effect on the quality of the canvas and what kind of painting a canvas is most suited to.įor smaller, detailed work, the smooth surface of finely woven canvas is recommended. When choosing a canvas there are a number of things to consider. This gives the artist the flexibility to decide on how much of the canvas weave is shown, and it also allows them to play around with texturing the canvas. Pre-prepared canvases can be purchased, however some artists prefer to prepare their own.

Once woven, canvas is then wrapped around wooden stretchers and prepared for paint using gesso, a mixture of plaster of Paris, glue, chalk or pigment. How tightly the canvas is woven is up to the manufacturer and artist. The cotton is woven using a plain weave to increase its strength. Today most industrial canvases are made using cotton, which is not only economical but easy to stretch and less prone to cracking and damage. Photographers are now in on the act too, beautifully displaying their photos on easy-to-hang canvas. By the 17th century, canvas had spread throughout Northern Europe and the trend continues today.

Things to paint on a small canvas