If your board is masonite, hard board, or birch plywood, you will need to use a rotary saw to cut it down to size.If your board is non-buckle board such as Gator Board, use a rotary blade to cut along the lines you drew.When you are done you should have a rectangular shape outlined on the board. Try and make sure to use the back of the board, this way pencil lines won't appear on the front. You can draw lines directly onto the board. First measure out, using a ruler and pencil, the dimensions of your board. This is only if the sheet of board you bought was pre-cut, and therefore larger than your final project. Rotary saw (for masonite, hard board, and/or birch plywood)Ĭut the board to your desired dimensions.A typical precut canvas size is a 21 inch (53.34 cm) height x 50 inch (127 cm) width roll of canvas, which will give you two 20 inch x 24 inch (50.8 cm x 60.96 cm) canvas panels. This usually comes in rolls and can be found at arts and crafts stores. If you can only buy pre-cut panels, make sure to get one larger than your final project. The dimensions of the board should be the size you wish your painting to be. The latter three can be found at your nearest hardware store. The first can be found at your local arts and crafts store and is traditionally labeled Gator Board. You will first need to purchase either non-buckle board, masonite, hard board, or birch plywood. You can put six staples on the longer ends of the canvas to ensure it is secure. Finish attaching the rest of the canvas to the frame by pulling tightly on the canvas and staple it down.Repeat these steps for the other corner, making sure to push down the notch, pull the canvas tightly and fold it over.Attach the canvas to the frame with a staple over the folded corner. Then, pull the canvas up as tight as possible and push it down over the frame. Use your index finger to gently push in this notch so it tucks into the fold. You will notice a notch of canvas that sticks out when you fold the canvas over the frame. Then, if you get really big bubbles or bumps as you're going, you can just take one nail out and redo it.'

Artist Kelly Medford notes that you can also use this technique if you are using a hammer and nails: 'put one nail on each side and work your way out from the center towards the end, continually rotating each side while you're doing it, so that way you should be pulling it evenly. Then, attach the canvas to the other short side of the canvas with three staples. Rotate the frame and pull the canvas very tightly on the opposite end.Also because a lot of times I travel, I have to ship paintings and roll them-it's really easy to unstretch and restretch them with nails rather than staples.' If you're stretching it and it gets lopsided, I find it really easy to take nails out and restretch it. X Research source Alternatively, artist Kelly Medford notes that you can use a hammer and nails: 'I because they're actually really easy to pick out. Place one staple on one end, one staple in the centre, and one on the other end for a total of three staples. Fold over one short side of the canvas so it covers the stretcher bar and then staple the canvas to the stretcher bar. Use the staple gun to attach the canvas to the frame.

Easy canvas art diy