Pick The Right Canvas for Your Art

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When most artists talk about canvases, they mean true canvases: taut, coarse surfaces spun from hemp, cotton, flax or other durable materials. However, some artists use the term “canvas” loosely to mean any impressionable surface for artwork. But how do you pick the right ones? 

Choosing the right canvas for your project is a serious consideration, as it will affect a) the effort you put in at the outset, b) the painting experience, and c) the presentation of the final product. Below, learn different types of canvas to get you started on your decision-making journey. If you come away from this article with questions, follow up with knowledgeable retail clerks at a reputable arts store. All canvases below (and more) are available online at AboveGroundArtSupplies.com

For the Hobby Artist or Tinkerer: Canvas Pads and Panels

Canvas pads and canvas panels are perfect for artists who just want to play around. The former resembles a drawing pad, bound with several sheets of canvas that you can either tear out to mount on an easel or leave inside to create art right there in the pad. Fredrix is a great brand for canvas pads, offering various sizes. 

Canvas panels are single canvas sheets, typically primed to receive oil or acrylic paints (read: universal). The Winsor & Newton brand makes excellent canvas panels of varying sizes. These pads and panels aren’t “gallery ready” or made of archival materials, but they’re fantastic for ideating, learning and practicing. 

For the Customizing Perfectionist: Canvas Rolls

It’s right there in the name: Canvas rolls are large rolls of canvas from which artists can cut and mount the sizes they want. They offer a high degree of customizability. However, you need to know how to cut, stretch and mount canvas to a board for this option to work its charms. Check out this YouTube video for how to manipulate a canvas roll. 

For the “Let’s Get Painting Already!” Artist: Stretched Canvases

If you want to create work for a personal archive or professional gallery but don’t really want to play around with mounting yourself, stretched canvases are the way to go. These canvases are pre-mounted and ready to be painted. Fredrix and Winsor & Newton (mentioned above) offer versatile stretched canvases, as do Old Holland and Liquitex. 

For the Artist Who Prefers a Firm, Durable Alternative: Cradled Panels

Okay, okay – so these aren’t technically canvases. However, they earn a spot on the list because they’re a popular alternative with a lot going for them. 

Cradled panels are basically wooden frames with an attached board. Some artists prefer the hardness of a fixed board for their paintings because it doesn’t give in to brush pressure. Mixed-media artists especially like cradled panels. Flip the panel to its hollow side, and you have a perfect space for 3D art and sculpture. 

For the Ultra-Specific Painter: Non-Universal Canvases

Mostly, the canvases listed above are considered universal: suitable for work with oil or acrylic. However, many professional artists prefer a canvas specifically designed and manufactured for their medium. And that’s where specialty canvases come in. You can find canvases for watercolouring, canvases just for oil paints, canvases for acrylic, etc. These are often artist-grade and use archival materials – like hand-primed Belgian linen in the case of oil canvases or gesso-primed surfaces in the case of watercolour canvases. 

Hopefully, this article will set you on the right path toward finding your perfect canvas. If you have any outstanding questions, ask your local art supply store what they recommend. 

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