Canvas Rolls

Canvas Rolls

Canvas rolls are large sheets of unstretched canvas that are used to create stretched canvas. The appeal of stretching your own canvas lies in its affordability and the flexibility to create custom-sized pieces. Artists can choose from a variety of canvas rolls in different materials, fabric weights, textures, and widths.

Canvas Materials

Cotton Canvas Rolls are made from the cotton plant and are a popular choice among artists of all levels. Cotton canvas rolls are known for their natural, breathable qualities, offering a flexible texture suitable for various uses. Reasons artists choose cotton canvas include:

• Ease of Use: Cotton canvas is much easier to stretch and prime compared to linen canvas due to its texture and flexibility.
• Affordability: Cotton canvas is budget-friendly, making it perfect for students or for practicing.
• Versatility: Cotton canvas is widely available and comes in a variety of sizes, strengths, weights, and textures to suit almost any artist’s needs.

Linen Canvas Rolls are a premium choice known for exceptional durability and long lifespan. They are naturally resistant to mold and pests, and their tight weave provides a stable painting surface, making them a favorite for formal portraits and important artworks. They may, however, be difficult for inexperienced artists to stretch for the first time. Reasons artists choose linen canvas include:

• Strength & Durability: Linen has stronger fibers and a tighter weave than cotton, making it more resistant to sagging. Its lower absorbency levels also make it less susceptible to expansion and contraction from changes in humidity and moisture.
• Fine Texture: Linen features a smoother, more refined texture than cotton. This makes it ideal for detailed work and achieving beautiful, precise brushstrokes.
• Sustainability: Growing flax is easier on the environment than growing cotton, which requires a lot of water and pesticides. Flax is naturally pest-resistant and can grow in poor soil, making linen canvas an eco-conscious choice.

Polyester and Poly Blend Canvas Rolls are made from polyester, which is a type of synthetic fiber. Poly blend canvas rolls use a combination of synthetic and natural fibers. They are a great option for artists seeking the natural texture of a traditional canvas and the added strength and resilience of synthetic materials. Reasons artists choose synthetic canvas include:

• Affordability: Like cotton canvas, synthetic options are often budget-friendly, making them a great choice for beginners and artists concerned about cost.
• Durability: Synthetic fibers are tough. They resist tearing, mold, and mildew, which makes them perfect for humid environments. Polyester canvas, the most common type, is usually easier to clean and care for than a natural fiber canvas.
• Versatility: Synthetic blend canvases work well with a wide range of paints and primers.

Canvas Weight

Canvas weight refers to the thread density of the fabric and is measured in ounces per square yard (oz/sq yd). Canvas weight is important because it affects how your paint appears on the canvas as well as the overall longevity of the canvas.

• Affordable: Perfect for students, practice pieces, and sketches
• Easy to Stretch: Requires less strength to stretch onto a frame
• Ideal for DIY Projects: Great for creating canvas-covered panels and other crafts

• Professional Standard: A popular choice for professional artists working on standard-sized paintings
• Durable Weave: Supports heavier paint applications and prevents primer from seeping through to the back
• Versatile: Great for a wide range of media and painting styles

• Maximum Stability: Minimal shrinkage and excellent surface flatness
• Ideal for Large-Scale Works: Perfect for large paintings, murals, and floor cloths
• Sag-Resistant: Resists sagging on stretchers, ensuring a taut surface for painting

Primed vs Unprimed Canvas

• Unprimed Canvas Rolls are raw, untreated fabric, free from any sizing or priming. This type of canvas is perfect for artists who want complete control over every step of their creative process, from stretching to priming. Any creases from folding will naturally disappear during the stretching and priming stages.
• Primed Canvas Rolls have a primer coating applied to the canvas that helps the paint adhere to the surface. Artists opt for a primed canvas for the convenience of being able to paint right away, as it comes expertly primed and cured. Depending on the paint you want to use, you should choose an acrylic or oil primed canvas. Acrylic primed canvas rolls are gesso primed and largely used with acrylic paint, but can also be used with gouache and watercolors. Oil primed canvas rolls are best suited for oil paint and other oil-based mediums.

Canvas Roll Sizing

Canvas rolls are sold in various widths, 72 and 84 inches being the most common, and various lengths ranging from 1 yard to 50 yards. Choose a width that matches the shorter side of your stretcher bars, remembering to add about three inches to each side for stretching. For smaller studios or artists with limited space, half-width rolls offer a more manageable option for handling and storage.

Stretching Canvas Rolls

To create a stretched canvas, you’ll need stretcher bars and braces to construct the frame and canvas stretching tools to secure the canvas fabric. For more details on how to stretch canvas, check out our canvas stretching guide.

Blick Custom Stretched Canvas

Bring your vision to life with a professional-quality custom stretched canvas from Blick. Our online Canvas Builder puts you in control, allowing you to create the perfect foundation for your next masterpiece. Provide your dimensions, choose from over 35 premium canvas fabrics, and select from a variety of stretcher bar options to suit your unique needs. Handcrafted in the USA by our team of expert builders, your custom canvas will be shipped directly 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.