Paint your next masterpiece on a hand-stretched canvas .
If you are going to regularly paint on canvas or other fabrics, it is important that you know how-to make a frame (also called stretcher bars) to stretch and shape your fabric materials as you see fit. The advantage to creating your own frame is that you can stretch out your fabric to the any size that you need, which might not be readily available in an art store. With a little bit of carpentry know-how you can save yourself time, money and the frustration of tracking down the right size stretcher frame for your next painting project.
Instructions
1. Measure and cut the wood for your main frame. Cut each end at a 45-degree angle so that each pair forms a 90-degree angle at the four corners of the frame. Mark the angle in pencil prior to cutting to ensure a correct line. It is helpful to use a miter box to make this angle, though it is not necessary if you measure and mark the line using a linear or angle ruler. If you are using a small handsaw, you might find it too bulky to use a miter box while cutting, instead measure twice and cut once slowly on your marked line.
2. Staple the pieces together on the seams so that the corners fit together snugly. Use three staples that are evenly spaced on each diagonal corner seam where the pieces meet. You will not see the staples once the canvass or fabric is stretched over the frame, as the staples will be facing the inside of the canvass stretched on the frame.
3. Measure and cut your quarter rounds to create a lip for the stretcher frame. The round edge should face the inside of the frame, while the flat edge will align with the outside edges of the 1X2 inch frame. When stretching canvas or other fabric material onto the frame, the fabric should be raised slightly off the main frame by the quarter round and held taught to make a good painting surface. By placing quarter-round trim along the edges of your stretcher bars you'll achieve this effect.
4. Fit the quarter round trim together with the round edge on the inside of the frame and nail them into place on the outside edge of the frame bars with headless nails. You want to use 1 1/4 inch nails for this project, as you want the nails to go all the way through the trim and into the 1-by-2 frame pieces, yet not through the back of the stretcher frame. Space the nails out so that the trim is firmly connected to the main portion of your stretcher frame.
5. Stretch and attach your canvass or other fabric. You can use the staple gun to attach your material to the back of the frame. You will then be ready to paint.
