How to Stretch Primed Canvas

Save Money and Get the Results You Want

48 x 60” Best Pro-Bar System on Primed Belgian Linen

Stretching very flexible unprimed canvas or linen is not so difficult to learn, but for those who simply do not want to deal with the gesso process, then preprimed stretched canvas is a good option. The convenience and quality of the superb surfaces available on commercially primed canvas rolls is hard to match. The common fear is that you won’t be able to do a professional job of it and may actually waste money and time on a botched job. Nonsense! It may take a little practice, but stretching your own primed canvas is a great way to save money on canvas expenses and get a custom-fit job. This makes good sense, especially if you often work, like we do, in non-standard sizes, or on very large sized canvasses which can’t be purchased ready-made at all. We have found that buying our own stretchers and rolls of primed linen is less than half the cost of purchasing canvasses ready made. That can really add up in a yea…