Preparing your own canvas is a rewarding experience, and it can save you money. Unlike canvases for use with acrylic paints, canvases for use with oils need to be primed.
Instructions
Securing the Canvas to the Stretchers
1. Before buying your stretchers and unprimed canvas, determine the dimensions you would like the finished product to be.
2. Gather your materials. The unprimed canvas should be slightly larger than the assembled stretcher frame on each side, because the extra canvas will be wrapped over the back of each stretcher. Purchase canvas that is slightly larger than you think you will need, and cut it down as necessary. Do not fold the canvas--instead, roll it like a carpet to transport it home.
3. Assemble the stretchers. Premade stretchers will fit together at the ends like pieces of a puzzle. If two stretchers do not fit together, turn one of the stretchers around until you find the appropriate orientation.
4. Unroll the unprimed canvas on a table or on the floor in front of you. Lay the stretchers directly in the center of the canvas so that the edges of the stretchers are equal distance from all edges of the canvas. Try folding each edge of the canvas over the stretcher bars. You should have enough canvas to cover each stretcher bar entirely with the excess canvas--not much more, and not much less.
5. If you feel you have too much canvas, you may cut it down. Using scissors, make a small incision on the edge and then tear the canvas straight up the side.
6. Grasp the top edge of the canvas (the edge farthest from you) directly in the middle, and fold that edge over the stretcher bar. Using the staple gun, staple the canvas to the stretcher bar. This should be done with a single horizontal staple, directly in the center of the bar. The first staple on each side will go in the middle, and all subsequent staples on each side will radiate outward.
7. Walk to the opposite side of the canvas, and position yourself so that the stapled edge is now the closest edge to you. Grasp the top edge of the canvas (the edge farthest from you) directly in the middle, and fold that edge over the stretcher bar. Using the staple gun, staple the canvas to the stretcher bar. This should be done with a single horizontal staple, directly in the middle. Be sure as you do this that you are pulling the canvas tightly against the staple on the opposite side. If you don't feel like you're getting a good grip on the canvas (and thus, not stretching it tightly enough), use a pair of canvas pliers to hold the canvas while your other hand staples the canvas to the stretcher.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the two sides still unattached to the stretcher bars. Now the canvas should be attached to the stretcher bars on all four sides. There should be one staple in each side, directly in the middle.
9. Starting with the side opposite to you, gently pull the edge of the canvas down over the stretcher bar and insert a staple once to the right of the staple already in the center of the stretcher. Insert another staple once to the left of the staple in the center. Then, move to the opposite side of the canvas and repeat. Use the pliers to pull the canvas tight.
10. Repeat step 10 for the two remaining sides that only have one staple.
11. Continue to add staples in this fashion until the canvas is completely secured to the stretchers. Fold down the extra material at the corners and staple them to the stretchers.
Priming the Canvas
12. Lay down a tarp beneath your canvas.
13. Scoop gesso into a bucket. Add some water and with a painting stick or paintbrush, mix to a thorough consistency. Although there is no set amount of water that you must add to gesso, water should make up no more than 10 percent of the gesso mixture you apply to the canvas.
14. Paint the entire front and sides of the canvas with the gesso/water mixture. Keep the coat as even as possible. As the gesso and water dries on the canvas, the canvas will begin to shrink and stretch more tightly over the frame.
15. The gesso will dry quickly. When it is dry, you may apply another coat if desired.
