Art Canvases and Painting Surfaces

Canvases and Painting Surfaces


Guides and How-Tos:


Choosing Canvas: A Comprehensive Guide

Find the Best BLICK Canvas

How to Use Canvas Keys

How to Stretch Canvas on the Bias


Choosing the right foundation for your art is an integral part of the creative process. The type of surface you choose can impact the paint's appearance, how well the paint adheres to the surface, and the longevity of your artwork. Painting surfaces come in a variety of styles, materials, and sizes suitable for different types of mediums. Here are some of the most popular options:


Stretched Canvas: Stretched canvas is art canvas that has been pre-stretched and mounted onto a wooden frame. Common materials used for stretched canvas include cotton, linen, and synthetic fibers. It often comes fully primed, providing a taut, bright white, ready-to-use surface suitable for a wide range of media. Learn more about choosing a canvas in our canvas guide or shop our most popular stretched canvas sizes below:



Canvas Blankets and Rolls: Canvas rolls allow you to cut and stretch the canvas to meet your unique needs. This is an economical option for artists who want to stretch multiple canvases or create canvas sizes that are not readily available. You can find cotton, linen, and polyester options that come primed or unprimed here at Blick. Learn how to stretch your own canvas with our Canvas Stretching Guide.


Canvas Boards and Panels: Canvas boards and canvas panels are a convenient and affordable alternative to stretched canvases. They’re made by adhering canvas fabric to a rigid backing, typically cardboard or wood. These panels and boards are ideal for practicing techniques, experimentation, smaller works, and travel.


Wood Panels: Wood panels for painting provide a smooth, rigid surface that works well with various artistic mediums and is particularly ideal for fine details and precise brushstrokes. While canvas can require re-stretching over time, wood panels are less prone to warping or sagging and require minimal upkeep.


Painting Paper: Blick offers a large selection of high-quality painting papers and pads for watercolors, oils, acrylics, and mixed media. Watercolor paper is best suited for watercolors but can also handle alternative mediums such as gouache and ink. For oil and acrylic paints, canvas-textured papers or canvas sheets bound together in a pad offer an affordable alternative to the traditional stretched canvas.


Explore our selection of Blick Brand Canvases including, stretched canvas, canvas rolls, panels, and stretcher bars.


Blick Custom Stretched Canvas

Can’t find your size? Our online Canvas Builder makes it easy to build a professional-quality canvas in minutes. Choose your dimensions, browse dozens of fabrics, select your stretcher bars, and let our dedicated team handle the rest—expertly built to order in the USA and shipped to your door.


  • Custom Sizes: Create a canvas in any size you need, from small to extra-large.
  • Canvas Options: Choose from a wide range of professional-quality materials, including raw and primed linen, cotton, and synthetic blends.
  • Stretcher Bars: Select the perfect profile for your artwork, made from superior-quality pine and cut to order in the USA by our expert team.
  • Expert Craftsmanship: Designed for artists, by artists. We combine cutting-edge technology with time-honored methods to guarantee a flawless, archival-quality canvas every time.
  • Easy and Convenient: Easily design your canvas online in minutes and have it delivered straight to your studio.

Frequently Asked Questions