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Helen Martell

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I've been asked to paint a picture, size 2ft x 4ft (60 x 120 cm approx). The lady wants it on a flat canvas so that she can frame it, but I can't find one anywhere. Only found deep edge canvas. Any suggestions on how to make one? Is it easy to stick canvas to a board or should I just get a board (mdf?) and paint on that?

Alan Morris

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Have a look on Jackson’s and look for bespoke canvas.  They will make you one up to your specifications, the thinnest canvas bar is 20mm thick. MDF board might be a problem at that size because it would need to be fairly thick to avoid twisting and warping and that would be fairly heavy too.

Alan Bickley

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The problem with MDF is weight! Fine at 3mm which is what I paint on, but it may warp a little. Saying that, this should be fine once it’s in a decent size frame, say 2in minimum. You can’t realistically go up to 6mm, it’s just too heavy! It’s easy enough to glue canvas to MDF if that’s your preference… there’s an article lurking about somewhere on this website, certainly its been in one of the magazines… perhaps Dawn could dig it out! I’ve done it myself in the past and used a latex based adhesive (I’ll come back on what it was), with no issues. A bespoke canvas will cost the earth, great if your client is prepared to pay for it!

Edited
by Alan Bickley

Alan Bickley

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It’s a simple PVA glue Helen, this article is helpful. https://www.jacksonsart.com/blog/2019/04/04/making-a-canvas-painting-panel/

Alan Morris

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Whatever you decide Helen, I would strongly advise you against using 3mm MDF at that size, 6mm would be a much better choice.  I know from bitter experience that thin boards or cheap stretched canvases at that size will only make your job harder.  Your client deserves better too.

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by Alan Morris

Alan Bickley

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Certainly 6mm would be a more stable size all round, but make sure that you attach a couple of ‘Heavy Picture Strap Hangers’, probably a 3 hole 85mm to be safe.
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Helen Martell

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Thank you for your advice, Alan and Alan. I've looked at bespoke on Jacksons and they don't do that size flat. Also spoke to a canvas maker and framer (Also called Alan!), and he doesnt make flat ones, only stretch or deep sides. Found a deep sided Jacksons one for £42, and Loxley gold at Cass Art for £93, but then also found pack of TWO (Loxley gold) at Turners Art for £68! Ken B's have the two for £117. I don't fancy having to make one to be honest, as I've never done it before. She could perhaps frame a stretch canvas (19mm) ? I've found two (not exact size she wanted, but similar - 100 x 50, and 120 x 50cm).
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I don't know if they can provide them, and if I had more than a moment to spare at the moment I'd find out: but in haste - take a look at The Canvas Store, online; Cowling & Wilcox; and would you believe it, the name of another supplier has just flown right out of my head - I'll try to remember it and come back. Gluing canvas to a support does sound like a solution here: again, look at premier art supply sites, even at wholesalers like Roberson, for good ideas.  I don't know what the two Alans would think about hardboard (Masonite) as a buttressed support?  In (and from) the USA, you can also find aluminium honeycomb panels, which are said to be light, certainly by comparison with MDF, and stable & non-warping.  At that size, though - price could be fierce.  
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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A P Fitzpatrick - there's a store that sounds a bit like Clemmensons, or something - I know they're good, even if I can't remember the name.  Tollhurst and Brown is or was another; Birds canvases - it would pay you I think to have a really good search around before deciding on a final solution: and I would bet that Dawn Farley could dig out a comprehensive list of the best suppliers, because nearly all of them will have advertised in the magazines.  Would Tollitt and Harvey be another one, or is that a shirt-maker?  I fear my memory tends to create Spoonerisms of companies' names - t'was I who wrote in the minutes of a meeting of a company named Seal Kink.  Which was in fact Sea Link.  

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by Robert Jones, NAPA

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I won't tell you what I made of Facebook.  But the second part wasn't 'book'.
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Helen Martell

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Thnak you so much Robert. I will look into those you have suggested.

Collette Hughes

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I am in the UK. I have used a company called cut my plastic to laser cut 6mm birch ply for me on several occasions. The plywood was perfectly cut and had beautifully smooth edges needing no sanding. Nothing like the sort of cut you could do at home. Birch ply is much lighter than MDF and is a lovely surface to paint on. It is not expensive, if you are ordering just the one piece you'll pay more for postage than the ply. I have often stuck canvas to birch ply. I sometimes paint on canvas taped to a board with duck tape and will glue the finished painting to ply. I use bindex as a glue, putting it on both the canvas and the ply. I use a soft brayer from middle out. I turn facedown, weight the back and leave overnight before cutting off the excess canvas with a brand new stanley blade.  
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