Yes, I do, but not often. I wish I had the time because I enjoy doing that.

The good thing about stretching your own canvases is that you can choose your own length/width ratio. With bought canvases you have to be content with what is made available by the art supply stores. Even canvases that are custom made by art supply stores can be undesirable because they are made to whole centimetre or whole inch values. What if you don't want that? For example what if you want to dimension your canvas according to the golden ratio of 1:1.618, or the ratio of 1:((1 + (5^1/2))/2) to be exact. If your canvas is dimensioned according to the golden ratio it makes it easier to arrange your composition according to the golden ratio and in turn produce a more aesthetically pleasing artwork.

Heavy 100% polyester cloth, like Dimout or Blackout curtain cloth, makes good canvas surface after putting few coats or artist acrylic gesso. Drum tight all seasons, stronger, no mildew, silver fish ignore it too!

Amazing! Can't wait to buy my roll of canvas! Though I still wanna learn more about stretcher bars, i feel like little is talked about them🤔

Thank you for this. I've had trouble keeping tension but I think that preliminary stretch will help.

Thank you, every video i see from you is a interesting learning experience.

I was having problems with the corners... thank you, Mark!

Ha! I thought I was the only one who stretches canvases this way. This technique works really well for large canvases too.

Thank you for taking your time to go through this step by step. I will definitely adopt your approach in the future.

Thank you for the invaluable sea of info on your web site! And thanks to Emily for voicing the learner's perspective! Not sure if you still post replies. My two questions would be: is it important to slant the staples slightly in order to avoid the wood to crack lengthwise? and, after securing the initial corner, should one always pick the longest opposing corner (in the case of a rectangular shaped frame)?

Hey there i realy love your work im from Pakistan i always enjoys your videos from dIYs painting tools to painting tips, kindly put a video of how to make a wooden frame diy ( stretcher bar) as you make your own looks pretty neat and strong

What kind of staple gun are you using? Is it pneumatic or electric? Thanks

I was wondering if you use/could use this method with a pre-painted canvas? if not. could you suggest methods for stretching a pre-painted canvas? thank you :)

Do you have a video on how you make your stretcher strips/bars? I can't find one on your channel.

I'm slowly going through you course. Something I had to look up on my own that you should do a video on is sizing and priming your canvas. Also is there a reason you put the staples on the side of the stretcher strips? I think traditionally you staple to the back so when hanging, staples aren't visible

Do you trim off the excess canvas, or tack it down in the back?

Keith Johnson, old masters used nails! But stretched there canvases lose. Because rabbit skin glue, tightens the fibers of canvas.

I forgot how involved stretching a canvas can be. I dropped the canvas altogether, in favor of panels. Seems a lot faster, and I like the smooth, rigid surface.

Great video Mark, many thanks. You mention that you make your stretcher bars and the lip on the bar looks as though it is all one piece? How do you make yours?

Safety tip at the end *chef kiss*

What is the benefit of doing your own? Is it cost or quality or just pride of doing it yourself. My work is getting better thanks to guys like you so I have started to purchase better quality canvas. I started on the 6 canvas bundles from Michaels LOL . Now I am looking at the Master Canvas brand and the Blick art company brand which is nice without huge cost.

Thank you Mark! Where can I get a canvas stretcher tool like the one you used on this video?

DO you ever make your own frames? People seem to want to buy paintings already framed but they're so expensive from the stores.

What size staples??

Cheers bruv

why not from the center?

Sir, can you please explain why you staple the sides first? I have seen lot of tutorials on stretching a canvas, and they always start at the center. Your reply will be much appreciated! Some people can't keep their dumps private. It's his way of stretching, and if it works for him (clearly it works), then it has to be the one he should be teaching to us.

Thanks for the video. I was curious how the old masters stretched canvas without staple guns?

LOL! Love you man! "Check the corners with a CD case"... Anyone under 40 has no idea what you're talking about! 😂 HOWEVER, you REALLY know your stuff! Cheers! 👍

kanvas baskılar için kaliteli ekonomiş şase imalatımız vardır

In my opinion, those who made frames for our paintings are also artists. Have someone that can turn a painting with dignity and valorize the work, boths parts winns with that. Good taste is important when to choose a frame. Is just a idea.

He has thin wood.

lol the rules in stretching the canvas is that you must stapled all center just like drawing a cross then if you see the center stapled all! another failure on your demo!

it was not the old master way of stretching the canvas. dont be fooled by this guy! you must know the correct order of stapling the canvas. in academic art school rooted from the renaissances the one that attend in italy you must start knowing the axis just like drawing a cross in center of canvas. this guy have a lot of mistake making an art.