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All painters are aware that the quality of canvas you choose will have an impact on the final painting. After all, the canvas is their primary tool apart from paintbrushes and paint. But how can you tell if a canvas is of good quality or bad quality?
You can tell a canvas is a good quality when the:
You do not need top-quality materials to make good art, but a good-quality canvas can prevent your painting from becoming damaged. So, read on to find out more about what makes a good quality canvas and all the grades of canvas that exist. Also, be sure to explore our collection of art gifts.
There are so many canvases you can choose from at your local art store. Although they look the same on the surface, not all canvases are made alike. Let's explore how you can distinguish a top-quality canvas from one that will have you experiencing buyer's remorse.
The most common fabrics used to make painting canvases are cotton and linen. There is a lot to know about each of these fabrics and their capabilities.
Cotton is affordable, stretchy, and will hold its shape. However, it lacks durability and breaks down easily. This is why cotton is best for smaller pieces of artwork. There are two types of cotton canvases, cotton duck and a poly-cotton blend.
Cotton is absorbent, making it an ideal medium to paint on. Since you have to mix paint with water to use it, you have to use a surface that will soak it up and allow the colors to shine through.
Cotton duck canvases are the least expensive type of canvas, and they are readily available. They are classified by the weight of the cotton texture and the stretch. The lighter and stretchier the canvas, the cheaper it is.
Poly-cotton canvases are made of a blend of polyester and cotton. They are the typical artist's canvas. The polyester makes these canvases stiffer and more durable. Poly-cotton is woven tighter, has finer threads, and is smoother than a plain cotton canvas.
Linen canvases are considered higher quality than cotton because it is durable and does not stretch. It also costs more than cotton because it takes longer to process it into a smooth surface for painting. However, linen is mold and mildew-resistant and will not expand and contract with moisture.
Linen is resistant to mold and mildew because it is not absorbent like cotton is. It also stays flexible over time, unlike cotton, because it has natural oils that allow it to stay slack. Linen is the best medium for oil painting, which is the most common painting method used for realistic works and self-portraits.
There are a variety of linen textures and weights to choose from, more so than cotton. But the fact that linen cannot stretch makes it challenging to work with without prior preparation. If an artist uses linen to paint their piece, they will make a note to point it out because they spent a pretty penny to get it.
When trying to decide which fabric would be the better fit for your painting, consider the following:
The best canvases have a fabric texture or weave that is made well for the type of painting being made. Smooth, fine fabric is best for detail work, whereas rougher fabric is best for large paintings that require long brushstrokes.
The texture of the canvas influences its weight. Heavy canvases are tightly woven or made out of a tough yarn, while lightweight canvases are open in their weaving and made of fine fabric. Fine canvases have almost no texture, and rough canvases have defined grooves and ridges.
Choice of texture in a canvas (grain, extra-fine, fine, medium, rough) impacts the final look of a painting. If you want the texture of the canvas to work as a part of the painting you are creating, then choose a rough canvas. On the other hand, if you want the canvas to be nothing more than the surface your painting is on, choose a fine canvas.
In painting, primer is used to help seal the canvas, prevent it from absorbing moisture, and allow the colors of the paint to shine. Whether or not your canvas is primed determines how well paint sticks to the canvas and if you can feel the brush drag across it. There are several different types of primers you can use for painting.
When a canvas is primed well, it usually means it is high-quality because the manufacturer took the time to prepare it to take on paints. However, you can still paint well on unprimed canvas. Acrylics work best on unprimed canvas, and without primer, the paint colors will look dull and lack texture. Some artists prefer this look to the bright paints produced on primed canvas.
Oil paint will fade over time if you choose to paint on an unprimed canvas.
If you are worried you will not get the priming process right, you can even purchase a canvas that has already been primed. Doing this will also save time if you are eager to start the painting process.
The best canvases have the fabric properly stretched across the frame. This means that the fabric is not damaged and is evenly distributed across the frame. When the fabric is not stretched across a canvas in the right way, it causes the paint to be warped and changes the look of the final piece in a negative way.
High-quality canvases also have a sturdy frame that can withstand the stretching of the fabric. Without a solid wooden frame, you will not be able to paint at all. The right frame is even more critical for large paintings, which should have an extra horizontal bar in the center for support. The best frames do not have any cracks, knots, or damage to the wood.
Canvases can either be stretched across bars or glued to a solid piece of wood, plywood, or cardstock. The artist chooses the method that works best for them depending on the look they are going for and the message they want to portray.
When the fabric on a canvas is wrapped well, it provides a solid base for you to paint on. If it is loosely wrapped, it will come off the frame as you are painting, damaging the work you spent hours creating. The better the wrap, the longer the painting will last.
Canvases are weighed in ounces of thread per yard, and the weight of the canvas also influences the final outcome of your piece. Certain weights are best suited for certain types of art.
Choose the weight of your canvas according to the complexity of the piece you wish to complete, but also keep in mind how much weight you can handle and what you can afford. You can make great art with any tools you have at your disposal, because your imagination guides the creative process. Your tools just help you bring your creative vision to life.
There are several different types, or grades, of canvas available at your favorite craft store or online. They are as follows:
This is the type of canvas that is highlighted throughout this article. The canvas fabric is stretched over a wooden frame known as stretcher bars. This type of canvas is best suited for acrylic painting. Stretched canvas is already primed, and different types of primers are used for oil and acrylic painting.
Stretched canvases also keep your artwork from becoming damaged because the frame is built well enough to keep the painting intact. However, stretched canvas is usually more expensive because it is ready to paint on and does not require any prep. These types of canvas are also easy to hang and display once finished.
The pads of painting paper you can buy at art stores are pads of primed canvas that are bound together. This makes them ideal for students who often create art on the go. Canvas pads are also a less expensive alternative to stretched canvas. Pads have a variety of textures to suit different art styles.
The downside to canvas pads is that they do not age well, meaning that the art you create within the pages will fade with time, and sometimes become unrecognizable. This is why they are best for learning and studying new techniques rather than creating finished pieces.
Canvas rolls are bundles of prepared canvas that you can shape and cut to fit your needs. They are the least expensive option out of all the canvas types and come in both cotton and linen varieties.
However, canvas rolls are best suited for experienced painters who prefer stretching their own canvas. This is because the rolls of canvas do not come pre-stretched. The stretching process is very time-consuming and delicate. One mistake can damage a canvas permanently.
Canvas panels are more affordable versions of stretched canvas made of durable cardstock or wooden panels that the canvas material is attached to using glue. One con of canvas panels is that they have to be framed when finished.
Nevertheless, many artists love them because they are light and easy to carry, take up less space than a traditional canvas, and can be framed easily.
Choose the grade of canvas that works best for you and your skills. Each offers benefits and downsides, although some suit certain mediums and art styles better than others. If you are just beginning to learn painting, it may be better to choose one that is inexpensive but still quality enough for you to paint on.
High-quality canvases are made with high-quality, well-textured fabric, are primed and have a durable frame for support, have a good wrap to the fabric, and are of substantial weight to support the artwork being made. The grades of canvas are stretched canvas, canvas pads, canvas rolls, and canvas panels.
