What is Canvas Art Exactly?

Posted by david on January 31st, 2020

Canvas art has been on the rise for a few hundred years now, especially since the 1980’s, when giclee printing was introduced. Canvas was first made from tightly woven hemp, and was commonly used in the 15th century during the Italian Renaissance because of its durability. Hemp was readily available and would stand up to the harsh humid conditions, better than wood panels would, making canvas art more popular. 

Canvas slowly started replacing wood panels because it doesn’t warp as much and is also very portable. Canvas can be rolled up and is also extremely lightweight. These factors led to the integration of canvas art worldwide. 

How It’s Made

Canvas was first used as backing for paintings, until artists unlocked its true potential. Canvas was classically made using hemp, and can still be found today, but cotton is traditionally used now. Cotton is fairly inexpensive and also stretches nicely, making the canvas less prone to cracking. 

A canvas will come wrapped around wooden stretchers and you can even choose your canvas based on how tightly the cotton is woven. If you are working with oil paint, you’ll need to apply a thin layer of gesso, so your paint will properly adhere to the canvas. The gesso will prevent the canvas from decaying, by providing a protective layer, between it and the paint. This step will ensure your canvas art lasts forever.

Different Applications

There are several different ways canvas art can be made. You can use both acrylic and oil paints on canvas, and thanks to new printing technology, canvas is a great platform for digital images. Some artists are even taking embroidery to canvas. 

Printing on canvas has become increasingly popular, and is easy and more economical on larger scales too. Another advantage to working with canvas is not having to worry about special lighting when you hang your artwork. This is because there is no glare or reflection on a canvas print. Digital canvas art is aesthetically pleasing and can be installed just about anywhere. 

Canvas art can be created from any image you can think of. You can print a masterpiece even if you aren’t a master painter. Canvas art allows you to get a finished, professional product in just about any space you can imagine. Because canvas is so versatile, you can print images up to 40 in. by 100 in.! There are so many advantages to working with canvas, which is why you should consider adding a piece into your living space. Whether you choose to frame your canvas, or not, it will still add tons of style to any room. 

Wrapping Things Up

Canvas art is durable and applicable to any environment you can imagine. Canvas is a great material to work with if you want to create long-lasting pieces. It is affordable and super easy to get, which is why canvas art has become so popular. You can create a work of art with the click of a button, pick it up the same day, and then hang it on display for everyone to see. Canvas art is beautiful and will never go out of style. It’s super flexible and is such a great platform for creation. 

If you want your image to come to life, consider printing it onto canvas. Canvas art can be positioned wherever you’d like, with no extra lighting needed. It’s also lightweight which means it’s super portable. If you’re working with large formats, canvas is just for you. Canvas art is unique and affordable, making it one of the leading options for home decor today. There are truly so many advantages to choosing canvas art for your space!