How to Make a Painting Canvas
It is not difficult to stretch and prime a canvas for painting. In fact, it is fun, it will save you money, and your canvas will be of a higher quality than if you bought an already prepared canvas.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- 4 stretcher bars
- Hammer
- Canvas
- Staple gun
- Staples
- Gesso
- Gesso brush
- Plastic stirrer
- Plastic bowl or container
Instructions
-
-
1
Buy four stretcher bars. They come in different lengths, so you can make your painting whatever dimensions you desire.
-
2
Use a hammer to pound the corners together. The corners slide together, but you will need a hammer to pound them together tightly. Use a T-square to make sure the corners are 90 degrees.
-
-
3
Roll out your canvas on top of your frame. Cut the canvas 6 inches or so larger than the frame.
-
4
Use a staple gun and two staples to attach the middle of one side of the canvas to the back of the stretcher bar.
-
5
Pull the canvas taut, and staple the opposite side in the middle.
-
6
Pull the canvas taut again, and put two staples in the middle of the third side of the canvas. Repeat with the fourth side. You should now have the middle of the canvas stapled on all four sides. The canvas should be very tight where it is stapled.
-
7
Continue stapling, stretching the canvas tight and working toward the corners. When you reach a corner, fold the canvas like you are wrapping a Christmas present. Staple the corners.
-
8
Now it's time to prime your canvas. Pour some gesso into a plastic bowl or container. Add water according to the directions, and stir with a plastic stirrer. Paint the gesso on the canvas. Do this quickly before the gesso has a chance to start drying.
-
9
Let the first coat dry for a day. The next day, apply a second coat of gesso. When this coat is dry, your canvas is ready for painting.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be careful with staple guns. Make sure you have staples that fit the gun properly.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
