[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”19510″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=””][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
Stretching the Canvas
Super Sabre Society
Bien Hoa F-100D 440 at Tet, 1968
8/7/2017
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Since switching from using self prepared panels almost thirty years ago I have stretched and prepared my own canvases.
Stretching the Canvas is my initial investment in a work, the all important first step in creating a painting. The proportions of the canvas are determined by the preplanned shape of the composition and must provide a permanent stable rigid surface, remain tight as a drum and be prepared with several coatings of acrylic gesso oil painting ground ready to receive the drawing and painting.
I use Fredrix Heavy Duty Pine Stretcher Bars and Fredrix Acrylic Double Primed Antwerp 190DP Pure Linen canvas which comes in six foot by 6 yard rolls.
The following few slides will show the various steps performed in stretching and preparing the canvas.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19512″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
The Stretcher Bars
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19513″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Assembly Method
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19514″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Repeat All Four Corners
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19515″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Checking Square
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19517″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Measure the Diagonals
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19518″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
If Diagonals Match, Frame is Square
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19519″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Four Temporary Pins Maintain Square
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19520″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Now for the Canvas
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19522″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Three Inches of Canvas Around
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19523″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Measuring for the Cut
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19524″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Drawing the Cut Line
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19525″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Cutting the Canvas
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19527″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Stapler and ½ in Staples
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19528″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
1st Staple, Center of 1st long Side
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19529″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Set staple with Small Hammer
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19530″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Move to Center, Opposite Long Side
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19531″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Tighten with Stretcher Tool, Staple # 2
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19532″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
First Short Side Center, Staple #3
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19533″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Opposite Short Side, Staple # 4
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19534″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Four Sides Tight, Single Staple Each
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19535″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Working from Center Outward Add Staple Each Side of Original Staple on 1st Long Side
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19536″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Working from Center Outward Add Staple Each Side of Original Staple on 1st Long Side
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19537″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Repeat Process on Opposing Long Side
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19538″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Repeat Process Short Sides in Order
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19539″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Remove temporary pins at corners
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19540″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Canvas pre-fold for square corners
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19541″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Stretch tight for final corner staples
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19542″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Canvas stretching complete
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19543″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Home made Corner Shims
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19544″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Corner Shims in place
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19545″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Canvas Stretched ready for Gesso
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19546″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Beginning the Gesso Process
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19544″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Corner Shims in place
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19547″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Rapidly cover canvas horizontally
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19546″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
Beginning the Gesso Process
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19548″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
smoothing it out with 2 ½ inch brush
“][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space][vc_row_inner row_type=”row” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19549″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
I always finish with vertical brush strokes from bottom to top, top to bottom, to avoid reflections and shadows of horizontal brush strokes revealed by overhead lighting .
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”19550″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” qode_css_animation=”” title=”
I always finish with vertical brush strokes from bottom to top, top to bottom, to avoid reflections and shadows of horizontal brush strokes revealed by overhead lighting .
“][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space][vc_single_image image=”19551″ img_size=”full” qode_css_animation=””][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_empty_space height=”85″][vc_column_text]
The finished Gessoed Canvas, awaiting the drawing.
For those interested, I use Liquitex Acrylic Gesso for the perfect painting surface.
This Gesso is available in gallon containers from most artist’s supply stores.
For single primed canvas I use two coats of Gesso. For double primed canvas, one coat will usually suffice.
Now off to the drawing!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]