1. Super Sabre Society Bien Hoa F-100D 440 at Tet, 1968
Stretching the Canvas
Super Sabre Society
Bien Hoa F-100D 440 at Tet, 1968
8/7/2017

2. Since switching from using self prepared panels almost thirty years ago I have stretched and prepared my own canvases.
Stretching the Canvas is my initial investment in a work, the all important first step in creating a painting. The proportions of the canvas are determined by the preplanned shape of the composition and must provide a permanent stable rigid surface, remain tight as a drum and be prepared with several coatings of acrylic gesso oil painting ground ready to receive the drawing and painting.
I use Fredrix Heavy Duty Pine Stretcher Bars and Fredrix Acrylic Double Primed Antwerp 190DP Pure Linen canvas which comes in six foot by 6 yard rolls.
The following few slides will show the various steps performed in stretching and preparing the canvas.

3. The Stretcher Bars Assembly Method
Repeat All Four Corners Checking Square

4. Measure the Diagonals If Diagonals Match, Frame is Square
Four Temporary Pins Maintain Square Now for the Canvas

5. Three Inches of Canvas Around Measuring for the Cut
Drawing the Cut Line Cutting the Canvas

6. Stapler and ½ in Staples
1st Staple, Center of 1st long Side
Set staple with Small Hammer
Move to Center, Opposite Long Side

7. Tighten with Stretcher Tool, Staple # 2 First Short Side Center, Staple #3
Opposite Short Side, Staple # Four Sides Tight, Single Staple Each

8. Working from Center Outward Add Staple Each Side of Original Staple on 1st Long Side
Repeat Process on Opposing Long Side Repeat Process Short Sides in Order

9. Remove temporary pins at corners canvas pre-fold for square corners
Stretch tight for final corner staples Canvas stretching complete

10. Home made Corner Shims Corner Shims in place
Canvas Stretched ready for Gesso
Beginning the Gesso Process

11. Rapidly cover canvas horizontally smoothing it out with 2 ½ inch brush
I always finish with vertical brush strokes from bottom to top, top to bottom, to avoid
reflections and shadows of horizontal brush strokes revealed by overhead lighting .

12. The finished Gessoed Canvas, awaiting the drawing.
For those interested, I use Liquitex Acrylic Gesso for the perfect painting surface.
This Gesso is available in gallon containers from most artist’s supply stores.
For single primed canvas I use two coats of Gesso. For double primed canvas, one coat will usually suffice.
Now off to the drawing!