How to Gallery-Wrap a Primed Canvas
Usually canvas is stretched over a wood frame first. Then it's primed using gesso, which is a white coating painted on the surface of the canvas. It creates a smooth surface to paint on. But a canvas can also be primed first and even painted on and then stretched at a later time. When you are ready to stretch a primed canvas, you can choose to gallery-wrap it, which means that the sides of the canvas show no staples and the painting can be extended onto the sides if desired. A gallery-wrapped canvas doesn't require a frame.
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Things You'll Need
- Primed canvas
- Stretchers
- Tape measure
- Rubber mallet
- Pencil
- Staple gun
- Staples
Instructions
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1
Assemble the stretchers. Each end is notched and the corners slide into each other. The side with numbers or printing on them face to the back.
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2
Check that the assembled stretcher frame has perfectly square corners. Lay it flat on the work table. Measure from the top-left corner diagonally to the bottom-right corner. Now measure from the top-right corner to the bottom-left corner. The two measurements must be identical. If they aren't, take a rubber mallet and tap the corners into tighter alignment and remeasure. Repeat until the two measurements match.
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3
Lay the canvas primed side facing up on the work table. Set the stretcher frame on the canvas and adjust its position until it's centered perfectly over the primed surface. Lift each corner of the canvas and use a pencil to mark each outside corner on the back of the canvas.
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4
Flip the canvas over with the primed side facing down. Set the stretcher frame on the back of the canvas and use the pencil marks from Step 3 to position the frame accurately.
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5
Carefully pull the canvas at the top of the stretcher up and over the edge of the stretcher and lay it flat on the back of it, pulling tightly. Use a staple gun to staple the canvas in place at the center back of the stretcher. Pull the canvas over the opposite side and staple the center; repeat for the other two sides.
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6
Place a staple on either side of each one stapled in place in Step 5 to create a row of three. Space them about 1 inch apart.
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7
Fold the corners of the canvas. Fold them as though folding bed sheet corners at the corner of a bed before tucking the sheet under. Staple the folded canvas down at each corner.
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8
Add additional staples 1 inch apart extending to the corners of each side, working from one side to the opposite side; this will ensure that the canvas is perfectly taut over the face of the stretcher frame.
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Tips & Warnings
For larger canvases--for example, 40" by 60"--use canvas stretching pliers to grip the canvas when pulling it over the edges of the stretcher.
Make sure the work surface you're stretching a canvas on is clean with no dirt or grit, otherwise it could get embedded into the canvas.
Make sure the gesso is completely dry before stretching the canvas.
