Things You'll Need:
- 4 stretcher bars
- hammer
- canvas
- staple gun
- staples
- gesso
- gesso brush
- plastic stirrer
- plastic bowl or container
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Step 1
Buy four stretcher bars. They come in different lengths, so you can make your painting whatever dimensions you desire.
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Step 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.
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Step 3
Roll out your canvas on top of your frame. Cut the canvas six inches or so larger than the frame.
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Step 4
Use a staple gun and two staples to attach the middle of one side of the canvas in the back of the stretcher bar.
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Step 5
Pull the canvas taut, and staple the opposite side in the middle.
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Step 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.
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Step 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.
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Step 8
Congratulations! You have stretched your canvas. Now you need to prime it. Pour some gesso into a plastic bowl or container. Add water according to the directions. Stir with a plastic stirrer. Paint the gesso on the canvas. Do this quickly as the gesso will dry quickly.
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Step 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.
Easy! Right?
Comments
boatst said
on 5/10/2009 Great article on stretching canvas. Thanks for sharing.