How to Stretch Canvas Professionally. Painting Prep Made Easy!

Part I of II. Find Part II Here: • How To Gesso Canvas Pr...
All painters need to stretch canvas for their work. Relying on store bought canvas supports is fine for beginners but insufficient as you advance in your practice. You need to have the ability to stretch and gesso your supports, and in these two videos we take you through that process step-by-step.
Stretching a canvas is a foundational skill for painters, marking the initial phase of canvas substrate preparation for painting. This process, coupled with the application of gesso (detailed in a linked video in the comments), equips artists with a durable, cost-effective, and customizable painting surface. The procedure requires minimal materials: a stretcher, canvas, and staple gun, emphasizing the ease and accessibility of preparing one's canvas.
Canvas, often purchased in bulk rolls (sizes 48", 72", and 96" mentioned), provides the basis for this craft. Stretcher bars, available in varied sizes and featuring a beveled edge, facilitate the canvas stretching. The initial step involves measuring the canvas, ensuring ample material to wrap around the stretcher bars for secure stapling at the back. The canvas's uniform warp and weft allow for easy hand tearing, a convenience once a small cut is initiated.
Equipped with a fully stocked staple gun and, optionally, canvas pliers for added tension, the artist begins stapling from the center, alternating between parallel sides and progressing outward, maintaining a staple frequency of every 1-2 inches. This methodical approach ensures even tension across the canvas.
Approaching the corners, the technique shifts to creating a 'hospital corner,' a triangular fold neatly tucked around the back. While opinions vary on whether the triangular portion should be folded over or under, it's largely an aesthetic choice without impact on the canvas's durability or the painting's reception. Consistency in folding direction on parallel sides, however, may be a personal preference for some artists.
The final steps involve securing the corner folds with staples and ensuring all staples are flush with the frame's back, using a hammer if necessary. Despite initial appearances, any minor wrinkles present will be rectified by the gesso application. A traditional test of tapping the canvas surface, which initially produces no resonance, will, after gesso application, emit a drum-like sound, indicating a well-prepared canvas.

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