How to Stretch Fine Art Canvas Painting Gallery Wrap

Learn how to stretch fine art canvas paintings with a gallery wrap. Instruction by master acryllic artist Ginger Cook with the IfTheyCanICan.com series of instructional videos.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• how
• to
• stretch
• fine
• art
• painting
• canvas
• gallery
• wrap

[Fiddlewheel]

I prefer to use wooden plates and corkboards, anything you can inform me about that?

itd be appreciated.

[karattexas]

@Fiddlewheel I have never used any of those items to stretch a canvass. The way you stretch a canvass on anything has it roots in upholstering techniques. You can research that for more complicated things. If you are doing a circle it is important to make small even notches every inch or so, to allow it to make a drum fit. This is an old sewing trick. The lip on a factory-made stretcher bar keeps canvass from touching the wood bar. Create a lip on other things with a pc. of cardboard.

[signsofsa]

hi- could you tell me where you get your stretcher bars from? thx, jim

[karattexas]

@signsofsa I like to use the 1.5 inch stretcher bars for artwork I do not intend to frame Fredrix Heavy Duty Pine Stretcher bars are very good. The trick is to pick a brand and stay with it as they fit brand to brand ( as well as size to size). I like the larger stretcher bars as they need little cross support on bigger canvass sizes. Dick Blick website is a good place to buy them.

[karattexas]

I am pleased you found it clear and easy.

Ginger

[karattexas]

@g0dEATg0d "Square" is more of a carpentry term. When you square something, it means that the corners are at 90 degree angles.

[FrogmanMickey]

This is a good tutorial. I just wanted to add one tip I use for aligning the canvas properly on the stretcher bars. I tape the canvas onto a window with the painted side facing the glass. Enough light will penetrate the canvas that I can clearly see the outline of the painted area. I then hold the stretcher frame up to the canvas, align it with the painted area, and trace around it with a pencil on the back side of the canvas. That makes it easy to see where to set the frame for stapling.

[anguwalters]

Nice video,

wow!!...... thanks very much for the session. I'll work on that now,,,

[organizingwithe]

This was just what I was looking for! I included it on my blog today.....

[SuJessen]

Hi ! Thank you ! You make it easy to fallow! I like that!

[anamneses28]

@FrogmanMickey Wow! Great tip! That's fantastic! Thanks so much! :)

[iLOVENATURE2011]

this is actually a good tutorial... stretching my canvass would be easier from now on...=) ty

[pete1038699]

Very informative video, thanks, just a few questions, wouldn't it be ideal to stretch a canvas first to minimise any white corners/edges & how would an artist preserve an acrylic painting other than keeping it out of direct sunlight?

[07emre]

Çok itici bir ses tonun var!

[smile21jonno]

Thanks for this. I'm working on putting some of my photography on a canvas frame. I'll be watching the bit about the corners a few times when i get around to it

[kitkatkitchen]

Nice video but I wish the corner folding was more clear.