Tips on How to Check Quality When Buying Readymade Canvas Stretchers
People who don't paint or know little about art may not think much about canvas stretchers. They are out of the way, for one, and may not seem to contribute much to the painting itself. But for the artist, the use of canvas stretchers is just one of the most critical steps to producing a great work of art. It's part of the preparatory stage for every painting and as such, is essential to ensuring that a canvas is indeed ready for a stroke of creativity and genius. If you're buying your canvas stretchers readymade, here are tips on how to check for quality:
Go for the right thickness.
There are certain specifications you need to consider when buying readymade canvas stretchers. Makers of these stretchers usually sell them at standard sizes, which should pretty much meet your needs. Check the stretchers for sufficient thickness. Smaller canvases work best with thinner stretchers while bigger ones will require thicker stretchers.
Most readymade canvas stretchers you'll find are off-the-shelf types. If there is a specific size or shape you prefer, you might have to turn to custom-made stretchers.
Look for smooth edges.
Stretchers will be covered by the canvas itself, which means that the canvas follows the shape of the stretcher. Make sure that edges are aligned and smoothed out, particularly those where the stretcher ends are joined together. This is important, regardless of whether you're buying rectangular canvas stretchers or round ones. Any misalignments can create problems such as tears and unsightly angles in the canvas later.
Look for 'lipped' edges.
Ideally, the canvas should not touch the frame when it's stretched over. This assures you that the face of the painting will remain smooth over the years. Although you could probably create the lips on your own, having canvas stretchers that already have these will save you a lot of work.
Buy only from a reputable store.
You'll probably find shops specializing in school and office supplies that also sell canvas stretchers. If you are familiar with stretchers, you could probably pick out quality readymade bars from these places – if you know what to look for.
The only problem is that if you have questions regarding them, you might not find someone who can help you with the specifics. If you want to talk to a knowledgeable retailer, it's recommended that you buy from shops that specialize on art supplies. Art supply stores have a reputation to keep and thus, try to uphold standards regarding their supplies. If you want readymade canvas stretchers that are top quality, go to a reliable supplier.
Canvas Stretchers is one of the best suppliers of top quality readymade and handmade canvas stretchers.
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