How to Stretch Fine Art Canvas Painting Gallery Wrap
karattexas asked:
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.
July 6th, 2009 at 2:11 am
thanks for sharing!!!
July 6th, 2009 at 6:25 am
I don’t think it matters
July 8th, 2009 at 3:47 am
Thanks for the great video. It was helpful and cool to see you can stretch a prepainted piece of canvas. I didn’t know that could be done! I have a question for you. I want to start stretching canvas but I need to know if you have to get the gallery wrap stretcher bars in order to do the staple free gallery wrap edge? I can’t find the gallery wrap bars in the one of the sizes I need and I need to order some supplies soon. Thanks!
July 9th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Sorry for the delayed response. I use professional stretcher pliers to stretch anything over 16×20. Please see my reply to the post below for more details.
July 10th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I use professional canvas stretcher pliers when stretching anything bigger than 16×20. Be careful not to tear the canvas when you pull. You just want to create the same crease as in the video & follow the same pattern. When stretching larger pieces, secure 3 to 6 staples in the middle of each section & fasten the corners as it is a bit easier. Many men I know have strong enough hands to not need the pliers. To remove a staple you don’t like just use a flat ***** driver.
July 12th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Very good demo video with nice easy to follow advice.
Thank you
July 14th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
hello!you do not use forceps to stretch canvas?
July 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
hello!
is not important to use the pliers, stretch the canvas ???
July 17th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Yes, that is what I meant. When you “square” your canvas, you are making sure that the corners are at 90 degree angles. All the best, Ginger
July 18th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
I think she meant a square angle, perfect 90 degree corners.
July 19th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
actually, a square is a type of rectangle. anything with 4 right angles and 4 sides is a rectangle.
July 21st, 2009 at 4:23 am
a rectangle cant be perfectly square but i get what your saying. thanks
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:15 am
excellent
July 23rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
wow thanks for this video. i thought i could only have a company do this. it seems simple.
July 26th, 2009 at 6:32 am
As a note, commercial gesso machines have gotten the cost of primed canvas very low, so it is not usually more economical to stretch unprimed canvas. Ginger
July 27th, 2009 at 1:30 am
Yes, you can stretch any fabric & use as a decorative wall piece. However when you stretch unprimed canvas that you intend to paint on later, here is the trick. Because it is cotton, it will shrink & get very tight when the gesso is put on, so you do not want to pull it as tightly with the pliers as this may later cause the frame to warp. You don’t want it either saggy or drum tight as you must allow for the material to shrink when the gesso is applied. Ginger
July 30th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Thanks for the advise however, what do you think about streching unprimed canvas?
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:16 am
It’s easier to stretch pre-gessoed canvas first, then paint. In the video we stretched a painting that was painted directly on an unstretched canvas. If you’re traveling, it’s easier to roll up & put in a suitcase. Canvas can be put on a board or table & taped down. Not as good as on a stretcher, but is certainly ok. Works better on smaller size canvas. I would stretch 36×48 and larger first. Ginger
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Thank you so much. I am attempting to stretch my own canvas and this definatley helps. can I paint with arcylics and then stretch the finished work or should I only do that with oil or watercolor? I purchased a large roll of canvas and havent started working it yet.