How to stretch a large canvas – with Corey D'Augustine | IN THE STUDIO

Learn about the tools, materials, and techniques needed for stretching your own painting canvas in this step-by-step tutorial with IN THE STUDIO instructor Corey D'Augustine.

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Education at MoMA is made possible by a partnership with Volkswagen of America.

Featuring Corey D'Augustine, Educator and Independent Conservator.

#art #moma #museum #modernart #nyc #education #artist #canvas #paint #painting #howtopaint #learntopaint

[ImmaterialDigression]

My request is to get this guy to do like 500 how to videos. He's great!

[MarkStevensonProductions]

Thanks for the clear instructions. Question: I was taught to do all sizes face down, with staples on back and have done it that way with canvases up to 60x60 with no issues so far (some are over 20 years old). What is the reason for doing large canvases face up and side staples?

[KellyEden]

No gallery or collector wants to canvases that have staples on the side :/

[artistcg]

oh...I hate staples on the sides of a canvas, it looks much more professional with the staples on the back

[YeahSureNoWorries]

Only discovered Corey's videos today. My favourite YouTube guy. thank you

[mrv]

Excellent, thorough explanation. Just what I needed as a total newbie.

[billsrippedfitnessover]

Great video. Do you have a suggestion for a heavy duty QUALITY staple gun brand/model because mine is horrible? The staples either don't go into the wood good or they go in twisted, etc. Very frustrating. I was thinking of just using tacks with a hammer. Thank you.

[katykuhn]

Even in high school we learned never to staple the SIDES of a canvas! Always in the back… and working out from the original “diamond” (4) anchor staples, alternating kitty corner sides. Wet the canvas lightly upon completion so it becomes more taught.

[jamesflowers]

Great video but if I may ask why are you putting the staples on the side and then stapling the back and then removing the side staples? I don’t understand this.

[sky-frequency]

Really helpful. Thanks. Finally understand how to use my pliers properly. 🙂

[niecybbergner]

I really appreciate you easy straight forward instructions thank you!

[katgillang]

I've used thumbtacks on the sides as I stretch the canvas, then turned over and stapled on the back. Remove thumbtacks and it just takes a light rub with fingernail to realign the weave. Might not be as tight as yours though...

[s.s.]

I always build adding an 1/8 inch sheet of plywood on the frame, then overlay canvas. for a firm painting surface..when done painting unstaple and roll up for shipping or reinstall on reg. frame work for the long term.

[peteross]

Whats a strainer? (4:48). Love your work. Ta.

[vasiliatmanchokov]

1. The cross bars are not for warping! They are to prevent a long bar, in this case 40", not to bow.
2. You should not pull the canvas by hand, because you cannot hold it perpendicular. You end up to slightly rotate the pull and the result is eventual sag/warp/bulge. The canvas pliers ensure that a flat area section is pulled perpendicular to the bar.
3. It seems you have done one side and then the opposite side and then the other two opposite sides. That is incorrect. The tacks/staple should be applied in a diamond format and only one or two at a time on one side and then the opposite, If you look at a clock, the pattern is 12, 6, 9, 3 - 6, 12, 3, 9 - 12, 6, 9, 3 ... This to ensure proper stretch in all directions.
4. Back stapling properly is only possible with a stretching machine, IF you have crossbars. On a smaller canvas without croci bars, the inner edge can be used for stretching to staple/tack on the back.
Your edges look puny and like an apple pie.
5 A slight spray of water, distilled if possible at the start allows one to pull less and upon drying, the canvas would be taut.
6. You are using proper starch bars that allow a wedge for later tightening of the canvas, but you have fixed cross bars! A good canvas must have the wedge slots.

[Argendiego]

Hello Corey, I stretched my canvas and primer, was excellent the tension, but after paint on it with oil using spatula the canvas lost the tension, and the surface moves like a jelly. could you give me some tip ?... Thanks!.

[raym]

Damn. I'm amazed. Staples on the edge? Really? And working from the center is so old school.

[rtk]

Each to their own but I dont like this method, tacks on the side look ok but Staples on the side look untidy and doing it with canvas on top of stretcher bars just makes it awkward.

[bryancoombesart]

great video, there are a lot of 'how to stretch canvas' videos on youtube that are simply incorrect

[grekori]

Where do I get these plastic corners for braces?