Mounted and framed canvases offer an easy way to decorate your house or apartment; they can be done on a budget or with more expensive materials. The process of framing and mounting canvases takes some practice, but is easily achievable by anyone. Framed canvases can make a personal piece of art into a professional-looking wall decoration or gift.
Significance
Canvases are framed and mounted in order to stretch them for use in painting. You can also frame and mount a canvas that has already been painted on, as older paintings are often unframed. Canvas is easier to transport if it is not framed, but in order to properly display the artwork, it must be stretched across a frame.
Considerations
You will need to build a frame, or a stretcher for your canvas. If you are moderately handy, you can easily make a frame using four pieces of wood, or six for a larger canvas. The wood strips form a square or rectangle shape that will form the size of the painting; the ends must be cut at an angle so that they can be nailed or glued together seamlessly. If you are not comfortable with building a stretcher frame, you can purchase one from many arts and crafts stores, or online at sites like Dick Blick (see Resources below).
Features
To make your canvas frame stronger, consider adding cross braces. If your painting is larger, you may want to consider adding two additional pieces in the shape of a "T" on the back of the canvas for extra stability. Thicker wood and corner braces also add to the stability of a canvas stretcher frame.
Function
To mount the canvas onto the stretcher frame, you will need to align the canvas over the wood. The canvas is folded around the outside of the frame and stapled at the back. First, fold the top and bottom edges over the frame and secure at the back with loose staples, or tape if you plan to readjust. Make adjustments, and when you are satisfied with the framing, staple the canvas securely. Fold over the sides and repeat, being sure to pull the canvas tight around the wood.
Warning
If you have never framed and mounted a canvas before, start with a practice canvas. It is possible to damage the canvas irreparably, so do not attempt to frame a valuable or old canvas on your first try. Instead, practice with an inexpensive canvas from a craft store; for best results, apply paint or another medium that best represents the canvas you eventually wish to frame.
