Choosing a Painting Surface
A painting surface is a general term for the surface on which one can paint. The most common types of painting surfaces for oil and acrylic painting are canvas stretched on stretcher bars and canvas board. Canvas stretched on stretcher bars can also be called a canvas substrate. Oil and acrylic paints can also be applied to, for example, wood or fiberboard surfaces. In this text, we focus on canvases suitable for oil paint and acrylic paint.
What is a canvas board like?
Canvas board is a ready-made surface for acrylic and oil painting. Canvas board has a pre-primed canvas that is glued to cardboard. In its simplest form, a canvas board is a piece of cardboard with a thin canvas suitable for painting glued on top. In high-quality canvas boards, the primed canvas is glued to a sufficiently thick and sturdy cardboard base.
Thin canvas boards can easily bend when they become damp. The advantage of canvas board is its lack of stretch, which reduces the risk of cracking in the paint layer. On the other hand, the weak absorbency of canvas board is not to the liking of all acrylic and oil painters. Ready-made canvas boards are available from Itäisenkadun Taidetarvike.
What is a canvas stretched on stretcher bars, i.e., a canvas substrate?
A canvas stretched on stretcher bars, i.e., a canvas substrate, is a painting surface where the canvas is attached sufficiently tightly to the stretcher bars. Four stretcher bars are needed for one painting surface. Stretcher bars are also called stretcher frames or stretcher strips.
The stretcher bars have sawn slots that are used to connect the stretcher bars to each other. If you are stretching your own painting surface, it is good to check that all corners are square after joining the stretcher bars by measuring the diagonals. Diagonal measurement is performed by measuring from the top right corner to the bottom left corner and from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. If both measurements are the same, the stretcher bars are at a right angle.
Staples or tacks are commonly used to attach the canvas to the stretcher bars. When stretching your own painting surface, it is advisable to start attaching the canvas to the stretcher bars from the middle of the long sides. Staples or tacks should be placed approximately 3-5 cm apart. The canvas can be stretched tightly by hand. However, especially when stretching a large painting surface, it is advisable to leave the canvas slightly loose, as the canvas may tighten further due to moisture.
Stretcher bars and canvases suitable for oil and acrylic painting are available from Itäisenkadun Kehystämö. We also sell ready-made painting surfaces stretched on stretcher bars.
Materials for painting canvases
In acrylic and oil painting, linen or cotton is commonly used as the material for canvases. Hemp and jute fabrics are also suitable as bases for acrylic and oil painting. More recently, synthetic fiber bases have also become more common, but these are not as high quality as natural fibers.
The painting canvas should be absorbent so that the colors stay in the canvas. The problem with synthetic fiber canvases is their poor absorbency. Poor absorbency can lead to difficulties during the painting process and reduce the longevity of the work over time. By choosing a high-quality painting canvas, you ensure the success of the work and its preservation for future generations.
The painting canvases and surfaces available from Itäisenkadun Taidetarvike are made from high-quality natural materials. By choosing materials from Itäisenkadun Kehystämö, you ensure the success of the painting and its preservation for future generations.
Linen canvas
Linen canvas is a strong and slightly stretchy fabric. Linen canvas is well suited for large paintings. Linen canvas is a thick and coarse fabric that gives the painting a special look with its rough surface. Linen canvas is particularly well suited for oil paints.
Cotton canvas
Cotton canvas is more stretchy than linen canvas and easy to handle as a material. Cotton canvas is suitable as a base for virtually all oil and acrylic paintings. Cotton canvas is the usual basic material for painting surfaces. Painters and artists like to use cotton canvas for acrylic paints.
Itäisenkadun Taidetarvike is happy to help you choose the right painting surface
We are happy to advise artists and hobbyists in choosing the right painting surface and canvas. Welcome to our store to discuss painting surfaces and attaching stretcher bars. We are also happy to advise on questions related to priming and stretching canvas.
You can find us in Turku at Itäinen Pitkäkatu 31 A and at www.itainenkatu.fi.