Canvases & Painting Surfaces

The material used to construct a canvas can have a significant effect on your project. Cotton canvases are a great buy because they’re often more affordable and much easier to stretch than other fabrics. However, for large scale paintings, cotton may be too stretchy. Linen is another popular fabric choice. Linen is generally regarded as a stronger and more durable material than cotton. Although blank canvases can be difficult to stretch and prime over canvas panels, it offers the smoothest and stiffest surface for painting. Linen is more expensive than other materials, but it is considered the traditional choice for artists.

There are other synthetic materials used to make canvases. Polyflax, for example is one we offer in our selection. Polyflax constructs durable and economical blank canvases, but stretching it over canvas panels may be difficult for those unfamiliar with it. Luckily, many polyflax canvases come with instructions to assist in this process.