How to Stretch the Corners of a Canvas

One of the first things an aspiring painter needs to learn is how to stretch her own canvases. Stretching your own canvas puts you in control of the dimensions and surface of your work. You may choose to stretch unprimed or primed canvas or linen over store-bought or handmade wooden stretcher bars. The corners of the canvas can present one of the more difficult challenges for first-time canvas stretchers. Leaving the corners for last allows you to tackle them more easily.

Things You'll Need

• Staple gun
• Staples

Instructions

1. Staple the edges of the canvas to the stretcher bars so that the canvas is secured to the frame in every place except the corners.

2. Take the excess canvas at one corner in your fingers, and fold it over and behind the front of the canvas and then under itself so that it lays flat against the stretcher bar.

3. Hold the folded corner down with one hand and use your other hand to carefully staple through the folded canvas with a staple gun, attaching it to the stretcher bar.

4. Repeat with the remaining three corners, folding the excess canvas and stapling it to the stretcher bars.

Tips & Warnings

• You might need to use two or three staples per corner to ensure that the canvas is securely attached to the stretcher bar.

References

• Rex Art: How to Stretch Artists' Canvas
• Nancy Doyle Fine Art: Stretching and Preparing a Canvas
• Newcastle Arts Centre: How to Prime and Stretch a Canvas
• Empty Easel: How to Stretch Canvas