How to Frame a Canvas Painting

There are over 9,000 fine artists that work in the United States from painters to illustrators and sculptors.

If you’re getting into art and are thinking of purchasing some, you should know how to frame a canvas painting. Canvas paintings can be old, fragile, and beautiful or brand new and ready for their first framing. If you’re a young artist, being able to frame your own paintings is also important.

Here’s what you need to know when it comes to framing your painting.

Why Frame a Canvas Painting?

There are a lot of reasons to frame your painting. One of the key benefits of framing a canvas painting is to protect it. Framing helps more against warping than stretching alone.

Another reason why many people choose to frame a painting is due to aesthetic concerns and the beauty of the frame. The frame itself can be a work of art used to compliment the subject of the painting.

Frames come in every shape and size imaginable, you can even make them yourself. They can fit with any decor and often a well framed painting can become a centerpiece. If you want your painting to draw the attention it deserves, it needs a frame.

Here is a canvas painting framing guide for your next art framing project.

The First Step In Framing

The first thing you need to do when you begin to frame a canvas painting is make sure you have accurate measurements of the painting. You need to know the exact size of the canvas so it can be framed. Make sure to write down the measurements so there’s no confusion later on.

Create Your Own Frame

If you want to create your own frame you will need some tools. You can use a table saw, or what you’re comfortable with, but it must be precise. With your measurements you can cut the wood you wish to use to the proper length.

Remember that you’ll need a backboard as well to stretch the canvas on. You’ll also want to create edges that work with your backdrop. This is a great use of repurposed wood and other items depending on the themes you’re going for.

Find a Frame

There are a lot of frames and options available when it comes to framing a canvas painting. You can search the internet for the perfect frame if you don’t want to create it yourself. You can also use other ideas, such as shadow boxes and other containment vessels.

Finding a premade frame is a great idea for someone who isn’t handy with saws. If you don’t want to have to work with materials to get a good frame, the best way to do it is to buy a premade frame. Make sure that you get one large enough for your painting.

Stretch and Hold

Now you’re ready to get your canvas painting into the frame. The easiest way to stretch the canvas is to begin by using a nail or staple to secure one side of the canvas. Then you rotate the frame, adding another nail or staple at the very center of each side.

This work requires a tool known as canvas pliers. These will help you maintain a secure grip on the canvas without damaging it. It is possible to stretch a canvas without pliers, but some people find it more difficult.

This way the painting canvas stretches and also secures to the frame. Often, if the canvas is long enough, you can wrap it around the interior backboard of your frame. This allows you to stretch the canvas a bit tighter and the final product will be more secure.

Whether you choose to wrap the canvas around the board or stretch it to the very edge is up to you. Once finished you can slide the canvas into the frame. You can also assemble the frame around the canvas depending on the frame you have.

Framing Without Stretching

You don’t have to stretch the canvas if you don’t want to. There are two main methods for canvas painting framing without stretching the canvas. These are known as wet mounting and dry mounting.

The process to wet mount involves using an adhesive liquid like glue. This glue is applied to the back of the canvas and it is glued down to a rigid surface like a substrate. The glue is then allowed to harden and the canvas is affixed to the rigid surface.

For dry mounting, there are film laminates that you can purchase. You will then use these film laminates to stick the canvas onto a rigid surface. Both methods can produce wonderful results if you don’t want the more traditional stretched look of the canvas.

These methods are also used in other presentation styles that don’t require the use of a frame. If you get good at wet mounting or dry mounting it will benefit you in the future, as you have more paintings that need framed or taken care of.

Painting and Framing

There is little as rewarding as presenting a framed painting that you made yourself. If you want to get into painting, it’s never been easier than it is today. You can even sign up online for paint boxes.

Once you get your first painting done, learning how to frame a canvas painting is easy. The joy you’ll feel when people notice your painting in its beautiful frame is unique. You might even begin to sell your artwork, and the frame can make an impact on how expensive the piece is.