Re: STRETCHING CANVAS 768 by Aleksandr Berland on 08/11/01 at 1:40 PM
Re: STRETCHING CANVAS

In Reply to: STRETCHING CANVAS posted by KEITH on 07/17/01 at 6:33 PM:

: PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME WITH STRETCHING MY CANVAS, THE WAY I STRETCH IT IS, I FIRST STAPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOUR SIDES, STARTING WITH THE LONGEST BOARDS,
: (TOP TO BOTTOM VERY TIGHT). THEN THE SMALLER BOARDS. FROM THE MIDDLE,I THEN STAPLE TO THE RIGHT, THEN I COME BACK AN STAPLE THE LEFT, ABOUT TWO INCHES APART.I FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE THROUGH THE WHOLE FRAME. IT NEVER COMES OUT RIGHT.MOST OF THE TIME , I RIP THE CANVAS , BECAUSE IM PULLIN TO TIGHT, OR I GET TO THE END ,AND ITS NOT TIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDES.
: HEEEEEELLLPPPPP.
Hey there,
in response to your post about stretching canvases
here are the steps i use to get a tight canvas
1. never use preprimed canvases unless its a small canvas
2. make sure the size of the canvas is large enough to reach around not only the side of the stretcher but also around to behind the stretcher
3. start as you say you do with one or two staples in the middle of all four sides. As you do this make sure to lift the canvas off of whatever surface (table or floor) to make sure none of the canvas is slack under the stretcher frame.
4. Instead of stapling only on the right, and then only on the left... switch from right to left each time you get to each of the 4 sides.
In other words, keep all sides progressing with staples at basically the same rate, again only stapling 2-3 times.
5. The corners can be a little tricky, and might be a little difficult to explain, but i will try:
when you get to the binding triangle on a corner stop staplinh, then group the canvas of the two intersecting sides and slide the canvas between your fingers to create a perfectly straight crease that follows the straight line of the stretcher corner.... then fold up the side you have chosen to be the fold-over flap and staple it... you may have to staple the less folded over side slightly first. Then staple a few more times just to secure the corner.
Remember that a canvas will be even tighter once you prime it... start painting the middle first then work outwards.... Prime even if you aren't using oils because the canvas will be tighter, and light goes through the paints and hits the white surface and bounces back... which is what makes the colour really shine in a painting..

I hope this was helpful!





Follow Ups:


Post a Followup 686,768"> Aleksandr Berland"> aleksandrberland_hotmail.comRe: STRETCHING CANVAS_08/11/01 at 1:40 PM"> "Re: STRETCHING CANVAS"
PLEASE, CAN SOMEONE HELP ME WITH STRETCHING MY CANVAS, THE WAY I STRETCH IT IS, I FIRST STAPLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOUR SIDES, STARTING WITH THE LONGEST BOARDS, (TOP TO BOTTOM VERY TIGHT). THEN THE SMALLER BOARDS. FROM THE MIDDLE,I THEN STAPLE TO THE RIGHT, THEN I COME BACK AN STAPLE THE LEFT, ABOUT TWO INCHES APART.I FOLLOW THIS PROCEDURE THROUGH THE WHOLE FRAME. IT NEVER COMES OUT RIGHT.MOST OF THE TIME , I RIP THE CANVAS , BECAUSE IM PULLIN TO TIGHT, OR I GET TO THE END ,AND ITS NOT TIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDES. HEEEEEELLLPPPPP. : Hey there, : in response to your post about stretching canvases : here are the steps i use to get a tight canvas : 1. never use preprimed canvases unless its a small canvas : 2. make sure the size of the canvas is large enough to reach around not only the side of the stretcher but also around to behind the stretcher : 3. start as you say you do with one or two staples in the middle of all four sides. As you do this make sure to lift the canvas off of whatever surface (table or floor) to make sure none of the canvas is slack under the stretcher frame. : 4. Instead of stapling only on the right, and then only on the left... switch from right to left each time you get to each of the 4 sides. : In other words, keep all sides progressing with staples at basically the same rate, again only stapling 2-3 times. : 5. The corners can be a little tricky, and might be a little difficult to explain, but i will trywhen you get to the binding triangle on a corner stop staplinh, then group the canvas of the two intersecting sides and slide the canvas between your fingers to create a perfectly straight crease that follows the straight line of the stretcher corner.... then fold up the side you have chosen to be the fold-over flap and staple it... you may have to staple the less folded over side slightly first. Then staple a few more times just to secure the corner. : Remember that a canvas will be even tighter once you prime it... start painting the middle first then work outwards.... Prime even if you aren't using oils because the canvas will be tighter, and light goes through the paints and hits the white surface and bounces back... which is what makes the colour really shine in a painting.. : I hope this was helpful!

 
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