Image Credit: prostooleh Via Freepik
A canvas is to an artist what a blank page is to a writer – it’s a necessary ingredient in the creative process, signalling a creative void to be filled, a blank slate for potential.
However, unlike a blank page – which tends, increasingly, to be a digital document – canvases come in a variety of materials, textures, sizes, and types. Choosing the right one for your unique project will materially impact the look and feel of your finished artwork.
How do you know which to choose? The simple answer is to consult with knowledgeable staff at a reputable art store like Above Ground Art Supplies, who can recommend canvases based on the particular details of your project. A more detailed answer involves getting to know the wide world of canvases. Let’s take a closer look!
Take Stock of the Material
Generally, canvases come in one of two materials: cotton and linen. They both have their merits.
Cotton is a relatively low-cost canvas option, so many students and hobbyists favour it. It’s also easy to stretch and prime, making it a fantastic introductory material for painters. Appropriately treated, a cotton canvas will last for some time. However, it won’t last as long as its linen counterparts.
Linen is the traditional choice favoured by professional artists creating “archival” art – that is, durable works meant to stand the test of time. It’s also inflexible and warp-resistant, making it a superior choice for large-scale paintings. (The flexibility of a cotton canvas can buckle in the centre of a large frame.
How Fine Is Your Fine Art Canvas?
Texture is another key consideration when picking the right canvas. Like most natural materials, canvases come in various gradations of coarseness and fineness. Fine canvases (like most cotton and some linen ones) are fantastic for smaller, more detailed works. Meanwhile, coarser canvases handle big pieces really well, bringing their own boldness and texture to the finished artwork.
Consider Types: Pads, Panels, Rolls and Stretched Canvases
This is where you can seriously open a can of worms. Canvases come in various types, suited to differing needs, skill levels, and tastes for convenience. Broadly, they fall into the four following categories:
- Canvas Pads: These are essentially drawing pads stocked with canvas, ideal for tinkering around, brainstorming colour combinations, and dashing off quick works of art.
- Canvas Panels: These are single sheets of canvas primed with gesso and ready to receive paint. You can mount them to an easel to start painting. Canvas panels (and pads) aren’t typically archival, though you can find some that are.
- Stretched Canvas: Stretched, pre-mounted and ready to go, these canvases are (usually) archival quality without the legwork. If “professional” is the look you’re after, consider stretched canvases.
- Canvas Rolls: A DIYer’s dream, canvas rolls are… well, rolls of canvas. You can stretch them to whatever shape you need and cut and mount them how you see fit. Buying canvas rolls is the old-school way of starting a painting, and several professional artists still prefer the customizability.
Once you decide on the materials, fineness, and type of canvas you prefer, you can look for high-quality brands like Fredrix, Winsor & Newton, Old Holland, and Liquitex. Now, the only thing left to do is begin your masterpiece.
