How to Stretch Canvas with Tape

In the video you'll learn the ins and outs of stretching canvas on a board using tape, ready for painting in the studio or in the field.

I use 3M Automotive Masking Tape, Fredrix Ultrasmooth Canvas and 3mm MDF board coated with acrylic varnish.

The Pros:

1. You can make your canvas an size you want.

2. You can adjust your canvas size in the field by moving the tape.

3. It's a pretty cheap compared to buying pre-stretched canvas or canvas board etc.

4. Sending a painting on a rolled canvas in a cardboard tube is much cheaper and safer than send a stretched and/or framed painting in a big box.

5. The big board makes it easier to see the colours in your painting by blocking out light from behind the easel.

6. The board makes it easy to transport a wet canvas safely back to the studio.

7. It's great to see the finished painting instantly 'framed' in white by pulling off the tape when you're finished. Yahoo!

The Cons:

1. It takes a little more time to organise.

2. You'll need a drawer system to store wet canvases flat once you take them off the board. I use an architects big plan drawer. At a pinch I've also used coathangers with pegs on them to hang wet canvases in a wardrobe.

Note: You really need to get good masking tape to make this work. I've tried several brands. If it doesn't stick when you really pull on it then it's not worth the trouble - better to try another brand.

Happy Painting!

[shawniemar]

Thank you! I’m just at the point where I want to start painting on unstretched canvas to save space. Very informative.

[sagefirestudio]

It's a lot cheaper too! When I was painting in oils/acrylics, I would paint on Fredrix canvas sheets. It was a good buy for a beginning painter. I wouldn't stretch them, just tape them down. I work in watercolors now, and like to adhere my watercolor paintings to these sheets. I give the canvas a light color wash to match the painting, like you would in finding a matt. Then I seal and varnish them like an acrylic painting. It gives the painting a nice look, and it is a lot easier than cutting matts and dealing with glass. They are in common sizes, so you can find nice looking common size frames for them that are inexpensive. Also a lot cheaper to ship!

[anjuranga]

Very nicely explained. I am a beginner to canvas painting and was completely confused what to do with the canvas to start painting on. Thanks a ton for your tips and elaborate explanation. 😊

[leocantug]

Today I streched a canvas onto a masonite board, following the steps indicated in this video and it looks great as a prepared paintng project.

[CoxJoxSox]

From the state of 3M - great work - I love that VW painting behind you

[craigseaborn]

Hi Richard you didn't mention about gesso or sealing the canvass, any thoughts.
Craig
PS by the way thank you for the lessons!

[rhodevans]

Hi and thanks for an interesting video. I've just started painting on unstretched canvas and I think I prefer it to stretched. However I'm curious as to how you frame your works if you are preparing for a local exhibition for example. Would you be able to do a video on the 'post painting' stage? Many thanks.

[evastamfestova]

Nicely explained. I am only wondering whether it is possible to varnish acrylic paintings before stretching to the frame, I am worried it could crack.

[jau]

Hi Richard, thank you very much for making this video. Very useful! I'm going to have a go later :)

[HondoTrailside]

Another painter on YT mentioned that some top commercial painters actually size the painting after it is painted. He said we all love to crop our photos. In the end, we may realize there is a better focal point for our painting.

[HondoTrailside]

There is a technique for gluing wood boards for working on them. You put masking tape on the two surfaces, then glue the taped surfaces together. I always thought masking tape was weak, but it turned out it was almost impossible to separate the boards when I was done machining them. The key was using a veneer roller (basically a rolling pin to press the tape down). Try it, it will double your holding power if you are not able to find the perfect tape.

[charlottinitarantola]

Cannot find that tape anywhere but in boxes of 48 rolls! Curious where you found yours... do tell!

[RichardRobinsonStudio]

This particular canvas already has an acrylic priming. Sometimes I do give it a coat of gesso though.

[pershingone]

Thanks. Can you tape an unstretched canvas onto cardboard or even stretch it over a cut-out cardboard?
I am aware that this might rot over time but i am thinking about cheap alternatives to wooden frames.

[marcaaronhyman]

that canvas looks like its already stretched and pre primed

[TheZzmel]

Richard, you really made it simple to mount an art canvas. Thank you for showing that.

[mariaantonietamachado]

Excellent explanation !! thank you !!! how do you do with large canvases?

[charlottinitarantola]

Excellent video! I am going to switch to this style of painting RIGHT NOW. QUESTION: do you need to prime before painting, and if so, what do you like to use? THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[hdwalters]

I was looking for an example of an artist taping canvas sheets to a board since I was about to adventure into acrylic painting from my watercolors. Richards's use of 1/2-inch 3M automotive tape and 1/4-inch (or 6 mm) thick MDF boards was a great solution for me. I can see why you enjoy pulling the tape from your finished paintings. Your taping method leaves such great clean lines. I am so grateful to find Richard's channel which this video was the first of his that I watched. I am also impressed with his instruction, talent,  and positive personality toward his work.  I have made several sketch boards based on his design and I even took his suggestion to add gridlines. I like everything about Richard's sketch board taping process. It is simply brilliant! Thank you for taking the time to post this video. I am glad you left it on your channel for me to find some eight years later.  I'll be back, again, and again to learn more from your instructions.

[tomasfuchsbauer]

Thanks
Very nicely explained. Could you do a video on how to put the painting onto a stretcher frame.