Tune in for a live Q&A with Corey on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST! He’ll be answering any questions you might have on artists, materials, and techniques. th-cam.com/video/OxS8X_V6TCU/w-d-xo.html
This is the first vid of his I've seen, but I have to say his process is nonsense! Why would one kneel down and staple when one can *clearly* *see* through the back of the stretcher to check for taut, and why would one staple to the edge, leaving rippled sides, when one can just staple to the back? I've stretched hundreds of canvases in my day and I've never seen this messy technique used before.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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.
I wish this was more helpful. As a visual person, it would have been much more helpful to see this from the viewpoint of the person actually stretching the canvas.
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!.
Thanks very much for your question! Corey will have an answer for you in his upcoming Live Q&A this Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. (EST). th-cam.com/video/tywtIA3g9jw/w-d-xo.html
I've found the canvas will relax after the gesso dries. You could spray some warm water on the back of it and/or use keys that may have come with your stretchers. If the canvas doesn't hit the stretcher bars when painting, then it's tight enough. If it's too tight, you run the risk of ripping the canvas or warping your stretchers.
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!
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
Tune in for a live Q&A with Corey on Thursday, September 14 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. He’ll be answering any questions you might have on artists, materials, and techniques. He’ll also be revealing the next episode of IN THE STUDIO to go into production!
Hey everyone, tune in this Wednesday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. EDT for a *LIVE* Q&A with IN THE STUDIO instructor Corey D'Augustine. Corey will answer questions from previous videos, as well as from the live comments section. Watch live: th-cam.com/video/3Q2GDI673lo/w-d-xo.html
I have been stretching canvases for many decades, and I do not like any of the youtube videos on this topic. I have never seen any demonstration here produce nicer canvases than I build, and I certainly do not like most of the methods shown.
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.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
Tune in for a live Q&A with Corey on Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST! He’ll be answering any questions you might have on artists, materials, and techniques. th-cam.com/video/OxS8X_V6TCU/w-d-xo.html
My request is to get this guy to do like 500 how to videos. He's great!
AGREED!
This is the first vid of his I've seen, but I have to say his process is nonsense! Why would one kneel down and staple when one can *clearly* *see* through the back of the stretcher to check for taut, and why would one staple to the edge, leaving rippled sides, when one can just staple to the back? I've stretched hundreds of canvases in my day and I've never seen this messy technique used before.
oh...I hate staples on the sides of a canvas, it looks much more professional with the staples on the back
No gallery or collector wants to canvases that have staples on the side :/
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?
Only discovered Corey's videos today. My favourite TH-cam guy. thank you
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.
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.
Excellent, thorough explanation. Just what I needed as a total newbie.
This dude rocks!!
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.
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.
This was fantastic! Thank you!
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...
He is the best
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.
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.
Damn. I'm amazed. Staples on the edge? Really? And working from the center is so old school.
Whats a strainer? (4:48). Love your work. Ta.
I love all his vids😍😍😍😍
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.
Really helpful. Thanks. Finally understand how to use my pliers properly. 🙂
What about the crossbars?
Where do I get these plastic corners for braces?
I really appreciate you easy straight forward instructions thank you!
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.
great video, there are a lot of 'how to stretch canvas' videos on youtube that are simply incorrect
Can you recommend a good staple gun for canvas stretching?
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.
I wish this was more helpful. As a visual person, it would have been much more helpful to see this from the viewpoint of the person actually stretching the canvas.
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!.
Thanks very much for your question! Corey will have an answer for you in his upcoming Live Q&A this Wednesday, February 7 at 3:00 p.m. (EST). th-cam.com/video/tywtIA3g9jw/w-d-xo.html
How to add the cross bars??
Some artists spray hot water onto the canvas to get an even tighter stretch, would you recommend it?
I've found the canvas will relax after the gesso dries. You could spray some warm water on the back of it and/or use keys that may have come with your stretchers. If the canvas doesn't hit the stretcher bars when painting, then it's tight enough. If it's too tight, you run the risk of ripping the canvas or warping your stretchers.
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!
iVE NEVER SEEN A CANVAS WITH STAPLES ON THE SIDES. AND HES WITH MOMA. WHATS THE DEAL?
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
So.. when Picasso was nose diving into the painting of Guernica, he had to formulate the structure and canvas before hand? Yes.
Helpful.
Tune in for a live Q&A with Corey on Thursday, September 14 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. He’ll be answering any questions you might have on artists, materials, and techniques. He’ll also be revealing the next episode of IN THE STUDIO to go into production!
Do I need braces for smaller canvases? Specifically 10”x30”, 3/4” deep, 1 5/8” wide.
Hey everyone, tune in this Wednesday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m. EDT for a *LIVE* Q&A with IN THE STUDIO instructor Corey D'Augustine. Corey will answer questions from previous videos, as well as from the live comments section. Watch live: th-cam.com/video/3Q2GDI673lo/w-d-xo.html
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.
I have been stretching canvases for many decades, and I do not like any of the youtube videos on this topic. I have never seen any demonstration here produce nicer canvases than I build, and I certainly do not like most of the methods shown.
I love you
I like the New York accent.
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.
Lol ! On the side 🤦♂️
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.
Wow I cant belive The Museum of modern art's tutorial shows canvas stretching with all the staples showing. How lazy and unprofessional.
It’s not a large format
Staples on a side? Amateur !