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

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

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

Where do I get these plastic corners for braces?

I’m sorry but this is a completely incorrect method. Unbelievable that it’s coming from the MoMA. Even the final product looks sloppy with uneven scalloping on the edges; the profile looks like a ruffled bedsheet. I wouldn’t accept this from my college painting students and the MoMA should know better. Staple behind the canvas; work from opposing center points outward toward the corners.

Such a strange method, who puts the staples on the side?! You would think MoMA would set the standard but this is not good at all.

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.

Canvas pliers? Lol. I've been using lineman's pliers with a rubber band to keep it clamped... Got my canvases sounding like a tom drum. Lol.

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.

Totally the wrong way to do this. The face of the piece should be down. No mechanical advantage in this method. This is terrible advice. Come on MOMA! I'll show ya how to do this way better.

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

Do I need braces for smaller canvases? Specifically 10”x30”, 3/4” deep, 1 5/8” wide.

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.

Lol ! On the side 🤦‍♂️

So.. when Picasso was nose diving into the painting of Guernica, he had to formulate the structure and canvas before hand? Yes.

for me it cost much less to stretch my own canvas

You don't do the corners like that and you don't staple or nail the sides of the canvas. Real COWBOY boshed job.

How to add the cross bars??

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.

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.

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.

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

I like the New York accent.

Can you recommend a good staple gun for canvas stretching?

I love the demo but staples visible on the side? Even if you remove them as he suggests at the end, there would be holes on the side. I really don't get it.

Staples on a side? Amateur !

I love you

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?

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...

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

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!.

Hi, so I've got a roll of already gessoed canvas and its been rolled up for a while, so it already has kind of a waviness to it. I'm experiencing some scalloping even when I'm keeping the staples really close together. Any advice? Thank you!

Some artists spray hot water onto the canvas to get an even tighter stretch, would you recommend it?

Hi Corey. I really enjoy your work and always learn which is a good thing, indeed. Is the instruction for stretching a small canvas video on you tube, also? Many thanks,
r

I love all his vids😍😍😍😍

I really appreciate you easy straight forward instructions thank you!

This dude rocks!!

He is the best

What about the crossbars?

Helpful.

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

This was fantastic! Thank you!