I thought it would be nice to show any aspiring artists out there, how to stretch a canvas. Of course, there are many ways you can accomplish this task, so I will be showing one simple way.  First, obtain stretcher bars. You can make them yourself or buy them at any local art supply store. I obtained mine at our local Artisan/Santa Fe store. These are medium duty Richeson bars.

Some basic tools and materials you will need are shown below. Mallet, staplegun, canvas pliers, tape measure, screw driver, and wood screws.  The only specialty item is the canvas pliers. Mine are Holbein brand but any pair will do. Check an art supply store for your options.

First, assemble your bars using your mallet. Make sure your corners are as flush as possible.

Next, from corner to corner measure the distance. Your measurement should be equal from both sides. If it is not, that means your canvas is not square. Gently adjust your bars until it is square.

After your bars are square, staple your corners.

The canvas I am making is 52″ by 36″. So anything over 36″ you might think about adding a crossbrace. As you can see I attached mine using my screwdriver and wood screws.

Next, I sand down my corners just to take the edge off so it won’t puncture my canvas as I stretch it.

Now I will lay down my raw canvas and place my stretcher barson top.  You can get your canvas sold to you by the yard at any art supply store or some fabric stores. I am using a 10oz. cotton duck smooth. But, you can buy many types of cotton and linen, both primed and unprimed.

Next, I measure out just what I need for wrapping around my stretcher bars. I measured 2.5 inches from the edge of my bars since I am using medium duty bars.

Cut out your canvas.

Now from one side measure out 1/8 of an inch extra. This will give you a little extra on one side, but as you stretch your canvas it will all even out.

Now from the side you gave yourself extra canvas on, fold over the bars and in the center of the bar staple down your canvas.

Go now to the opposite side and using your canvas pliers pull the canvas around the bars. Be careful not to pull the canvas too tight or leave too loose.

Staple stretched portion.

Continue on stretching and tacking your two remaining sides. Your canvas should look similar to the picture below.

Choose a side to begin with, and realize that stretching is a two fold process. With one hand you will be pulling the canvas in the corner. This will keep waves from forming on your surface edges.

With your other hand you will stretch the canvas with the pliers.

So in one fluid motion you are pulling out with one hand and down with the pliers.

Tack your canvas. I place my staples in at an angle so that I have more threads holding the canvas in place. Give yourself three or four inches in between each staple.

After stretching from the center of your bars toward the outside, you will end up at the corners.  The corners are completed using a two-fold method. Notice in the picture below how each corner will have it’s own fold.

So first fold, pull, and tack the inside corner.

Next, fold, pull, and tack your outside corner.

Here is a nice view of the completed corner.  After completing all 4 sides, you are ready to gesso your canvas and paint!

And don’t worry it gets easier with just a little practice. Keep painting and drawing diligently and you will have the ’art of canvas stretching’ down in no time!