Stretching and Framing Art on Canvas

Many Artists tend to use pre stretched, treated and sized Canvas when creating their Artwork. However due to a number of reasons, including transportation and storage, Artwork on Canvas can often be purchased off their stretcher bars leaving it to the customer to stretch and frame the Artwork before hanging it on their walls!

This gives you lots of decisions to make…

The final size of the image
Is it best to have blank canvas on the sides of the stretcher bars or wrap the Artwork around?
The right stretcher bars and support
Choosing a suitable frame

The final size of the image

Some pre-stretched Canvas can show signs of the previous stretching including creasing, stress marks and sometimes even tears or holes. As framers we asses the condition of the Canvas ensuring it is stretched with the correct amount of tension without putting any fragile areas under further trauma. The final size of the canvas is also dictated by the amount of Canvas left around the Artwork, some have ample Canvas to facilitate the stretch whilst others leave the tiniest amount, the depth of Stretcher bar can be adjusted to accommodate this.

Is it best to have a blank canvas on the sides of the stretcher bars or wrap the Artwork around?

Aesthetically many Artists and Art owners like to have the Artwork wrapped around the sides of the stretcher bars and avoid seeing any white Canvas especially noticeable when the Canvas will be unframed or the sides of the stretched artwork will be on display. It is, however, important to consider when stretching the Canvas round the sides of the stretcher bars you are potentially hiding the Artwork and distorting your view of the Artwork. If the Canvas sides will be covered by a frame then it is advisable to ensure little or no canvas is stretched around the sides to allow the maximum Artwork to be displayed.

The right stretcher bars and support

There is a range of stretcher bars that come in an array of wood types, depths, and thicknesses. By assessing the size of the Canvas we can advise on suitable stretcher bars.

We would recommend using Gallery Stretcher Bars that come in standard Sizes with wedges positioned in each corner for future tensioning. Alternatively, for pieces of artwork that are of a non-standard size we would use custom cut stretcher bars. It is advisable for any artwork over 1 meter support bars are also used. This gives extra stregth and ensures Artwork does not distort, bow or sag.

Choosing a suitable frame

We have over 3000 different mouldings in our range giving you a huge choice of size, colour, profile, wood type, finish and price. Here are a few styles which all give a different framed finish. Here is an insight into some Canvas frames…

: Beech Wood Float Moulding. The stretched canvas is floated onto the flatbed of the moulding “floating the artwork” with the distance of space around to be chosen by the customer.

: The stretched canvas is floated onto the flatbed of the moulding “floating the artwork” with the distance of space around to be chosen by the customer. A beautiful moulding available in a range of colours.

: A very popular choice for Canvas framing; it is simple with great depth allowing a wide range of stretched canvas to be enclosed perfectly.

: A box frame with great depth and Bevel profile. This is a popular choice for with its foil and paint finish and comes in a range of colours and different depths to accommodate a range of canvas stretcher bars.

: The stretched canvas is floated onto the flatbed of the moulding “floating the artwork” with the distance of space around to be chosen by the customer.

: Available in a range of colours this moulding gives the look of multi height double frame.

Arrange an appointment to come and view our full range of mouldings or get an insight into our moulding range online

This beautiful 3 x 2 metre artwork has been stretched and framed by our Guild Commended framing team into hand finished Winchester Moulding with supporting horizontal and vertical bars.