Very Large canvases

[**guest**]

I would love to start doing large paintings (at least 4'x4') but need to know where to get cheap canvases (already stretched, etc).

Anyone have any ideas? I'm in MA.

Peace,
Liz

[MamaMonica]

I found the large ones are not cheap ad it's most cost-effective to stretch my own. Do you have someone with tools (or do this yourself) who can make stretcher bars? For bigger cavasses I found hardwood (I get mine at Lowes) warps less- and be sure to put some kind of bracing on-like a bar across or corner braces.

Good luck with your painting!

[E&Gmommy]

I just got some at Aaron Brothers, july is their buy one get one for a penny sale. If you have one near I'd go there. They are nice quality too.

[**guest**]

We don't have Aaron Brothers. I do not know how to stretch canvases nor am I interested in doing it myself. NO time nor patience.

[melissa17s]

Put a listing on your area freecycle listserve. Also go to goodwill, sali army, or second hand store and look for large paintings that you can gesso over and recycle. Garage sales may also be a place to find old, meh paintings to gesso over.

[**guest**]

Yep, done all that. No luck. I found a large canvas once but it reeked of cig smoke. Couldn't take that into my home. Ugh.

[MamaMonica]

What about masonite panels? You can get them cut to size at a lumber store, slap on a coat of gesso (usually takes two) ad paint something big.

(Just brainstorming- hope you find something and can do your big work!)

[E&Gmommy]

Originally Posted by melissa17s

Also go to goodwill, sali army, or second hand store and look for large paintings that you can gesso over and recycle. Garage sales may also be a place to find old, meh paintings to gesso over.

What a great idea. I'm going to have to do that next time. Way cheaper.

[**guest**]

I've used masonite before but it warps when it's a large size.

[melissa17s]

Paintings do not have to stay on strechers, so you could make a frame out of hardwood that you use over and over again. I would be much less expensive to work through bolt of canvas. I realize the OP said she does not want to strech her own canvas, but for others that are thinking about large and cheap it could be a possibilty.

The masonite got me thinking... what about other building materials? Sheetrock and cement backerboard come in 4x8' panels and can be cut down. I do not think they would warp. The texture would be a little different for painting.

[**guest**]

Sheetrock and such would be way too heavy. I'm looking for something that can hung on walls.
I just wish there was a place I could be big canvases for a low price.

[mz_libbie22]

Do you have a Hobby Lobby or Michaels near you?

[pumpkinsmama]

My SIL uses lots of huge canvasses... http://www.thejane.com/art/ If the other suggestions don't work for you, pm me and I can ask her where she gets hers.

[**guest**]

I have a Michaels near me. I did not see big canvases there.

Pumpkinsmama- Wow, Jane is quite talented!

[mz_libbie22]

Originally Posted by lizc

I have a Michaels near me. I did not see big canvases there.

you might be able to get them to order some for you though.

[**guest**]

Ooh, that would be cool.

[Starflower]

I've done 4'X6' masonite panels before. I didn't have any trouble with warping because I used some 1X2's as a framework on the back. I used wood glue and screws, though if you wanted to avoid the screws, a good set of clamps with the wood glue might work OK. I basically cut the 1x2's to make a frame just within the border of the back of the masonite, then I cut two more pieces as bracer bars and put them in the middle.

I don't think I used any screws in the middle pieces, just on the outside, but with my style of work (expressive mixed media), it wasn't really a problem for the finished piece. (I'm trying to remember for sure - it was in 1993.)

I was looking at Aaron Bros. the other day and almost bought some canvases, but didn't. I would've needed the heavier duty ones because I can get a little rough with my art at times. I decided for me that the masonite would be a better choice right now.

Good luck with your large paintings.

[MamaMonica]

Starflower, I did that on the back of my masonite panels as well (smaller ones with just frame and no center bracing) so I could hang them easily on the wall.

Instead of screws I think I used small finish nails- have to go back and look since it's been a few years. I went to stretching my own canvas because it was lighter and I actually enjoy doing it.

[magpiedee]

One of the biggest mistakes i've made as an artist was to do a series of paintings on huge masonite... and then try to find a way to hang them. Unless you have a woodshop and some building skills, they can be very tricky to move, build out, keep from warping and hang. After all the trouble, I just wished i'd saved up some Michaels and Blick coupons and worked on canvas!

I buy most of my canvas at Dick Blick Art Supply, and i've developed a great relationship with the owner and workers of our local shop. They send us 20 - 60% off coupons and have at least 4 canvas sales a year. You can also get a 40% off one item coupon for Michaels from the Sunday paper and just buy one canvas a week. My Michaels carries them up to about 3x5.

If you don't have that sort of store near you and you are really jonesing to paint big, you can always paint the walls or paint huge raw canvas. If you paint on raw/gessoed but unstretched canvas, you can always staple it to the wall, have Home Depot or Lowe's cut baseboard to size and just nail your own frame directly to the wall around the canvas. I'm a muralist, so I just don't think there's anything as lovely as a wall to paint on... but you're pretty much stuck with what you've got for a while. Or you're stuck sanding, priming and repainting.

Lastly, try going to Goodwill or a thrift shop and buying old paintings or artwork that is on sale there. You can prime over almost anything, or you can find something with a nice frame and glass and put works on paper in there. I got a hideous painting of a ceramic jug for $4-- and it was a 2.5x4 canvas once it was gessoed.

Good luck!

[**guest**]

I'm a muralist too but I don't own a home. I rent and can't paint the walls. Nor can I be putting too many holes in wall.
I do have some raw canvas. Maybe I'll just go with the gesso idea and try stapling it to the wall.