Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
Making your own canvases can be a fun and creative project. Here are the steps to make your own canvas:
Materials needed:
Canvas fabric (unprimed)
Stretcher bars
Staple gun
Scissors
Hammer and nails (optional)
Steps:
Measure and cut the canvas fabric to the desired size. Leave an extra 2-3 inches on each side for stretching.
Lay the stretcher bars out to form the frame of the canvas. Make sure the corners are square.
Place the canvas fabric over the stretcher bars, centering it and making sure it’s straight.
Starting in the center of one side, use the staple gun to attach the canvas fabric to the stretcher bars. Then, staple the center of the other side.
Pull the canvas fabric tightly and staple it to the stretcher bars on either side of the center staples.
Continue pulling the canvas fabric tightly and stapling it to the stretcher bars, alternating sides, until you reach the corners.
Fold the corners cearly and staple it down.
Trim any excess fabric.
Optional: Use a hammer and nails to reinforce the corners.
Congratulations, you have made your own canvas! Now it’s ready to be primed with gesso and painted on.