Why I prefer canvas paper blocks, over pre-stretched box canvases
Dec 24, 2009 acrylic, art, oil
The traditional pre-stretched, box, canvas
Most oil (and acrylic) painters use the now familiar pre-stretched (or box) canvas. This is a wooden frame with a sheet of canvas stretched across the frame and staped on the back of the frame, keeping the canvas evenly stretched around the frame, almost like a skin over a drum. This is them primed and painted on. Personally, I’ve grown to love and prefer canvas paper blocks…
The canvas blocks are pages of 230gsm (or more) paper which has a canvas texture to it and is specially made for oil/acrylic painting. Why do I prefer it? Here’s why:
Fabriano canvas paper block.
- storage – I can store 15 sheets in a space that is less than 0.5″ in depth. Imagine how much space it’d take for 15 canvases that are each 0.5″ thick!
- cost – I can (here in the UK) purchase 15 sheets of good quality, brand name, canvas paper for approximately £15. If I was buying box canvases I’d be lucky to get three for that price. This also means I can sell my paintings cheaper too, a big plus for customers.
- postage – it is so easy to post canvas paper. You could roll it up and post it in a tube, but I NEVER do that – too risky – I always post my paintings flat and with a heavy cardboard backing. Either way, it’s cheaper than posting a heavy, bulky, stretched canvas! This means I can charge less for postage, customer wins again!
- framing – an oil painting on canvas paper can be framed just like a watercolour painting, no big bulky frame (or painting the sides of the box canvas), just a thin frame with a sheet of glass. Also, since you are framing it like a watercolour you can use a nice mount to show off your lovely oil painting.
Clairefontaine canvas paper block.
The two brands that I use are: Clairefontaine (right), and Fabriano (above right). I find that they are excellent value for money, bright white, and easily available in most art stores online.
Give them a try, you’ve nothing much to lose… apart from a few pounds/dollars.
Tags: block, box, canvas, clairfontaine, fabriano, huile, oil, oilio, paper, pre-stretched, stretched, tela
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