How To Stretch Canvas

What you will need

·         Stretcher bars

·         Canvas fabric

·         Staples

·         Staple gun

·         Gesso

·         Paint brush

When it comes to making and stretching your own canvas the first thing that you will need are stretcher bars. Stretcher bars are the wooden beams that support and give the canvas its shape. Theses bars have little slots that grove so that the bars fit inside one another and for 90 degree angles. After you have successfully made the bars into a square or rectangle you then will need a piece of canvas fabric. Canvas fabric is a thick fabric which is commonly used to make canvases, hence the name. You will need to lay the fabric flat on the floor or work area and then put your square made form stretcher bars on top of it. On the center of one side you will then fold the fabric up and over the one side and staple the canvas to the bar. Then you will go to the other side and place another staple in the center of the opposite side. Repeat this process on the other two sides. Make sure to stretch tightly. When you have finished the center staples start working your way out from the corners still alternating between opposite sides. When you have reached the corners you will need to make a nurses corner, which is when you fold the fabric to be tight around the corner and not have it show on the front side. When you are finished stretching the canvas you will need to gesso it, or prime it. Use a large paint brush and spread the gesso on evenly. Three coats will work the best and make sure to leave about 20 minutes in between each layer. When the gesso dries your canvas will be complete.