Gallery wrapped canvas on easel
A gallery wrapped canvas is a canvas that is attached to the back of stretchers with staples. A non-gallery wrap may staple the canvas to the sides of the stretchers which prevents the painting from being mounted without a frame. When the canvas is stretched and stapled to the back, the artist can paint around the corner of the canvas and the painting can be hung with no frame. An existing painting can be stretched and mounted in this manner although it may feel uncomfortable to see painted canvas on the back of the stretcher where you are stapling.
Instructions
1. Purchase stretcher bars in the size you want to use. For a new painting you can select any size you want. For an existing painting you will want to measure the painted surface of the work and select stretcher bars that are at least one inch shorter for both length and width. If the stretcher bar (the wood) is thicker than a half inch you may need to allow more than one inch shorter.
2. Assemble the stretcher bars. Most stretcher bars are slotted. The top side doesn't have writing. The bottom side has the measurement of the stretcher. Insert the slotted corners together. Measure diagonally from corner to corner to check for square. Your diagonal measurements should be the same when the wood is square.
3. Place the canvas face-down on the work table. Position the stretcher bar over the canvas with at least 3 inches of excess canvas on each side. Trim off the excess with scissors.
4. Find the center of a long side. Bring your canvas over the side of the stretcher bar and staple the canvas near the center thickness of the stretcher bar. Go directly across the canvas and stretch the canvas with your hands. You should see a tightening of the canvas. Place a staple. Go to the center of each side. Pull. Stretch and staple. For larger canvas you will need to use special canvas stretching pliers in order to pull the canvas.
5. Return to your first long side. Use your pliers (if necessary), stretch and add three to four more staples 1 to 2 inches apart moving away from each side of the center. Move across to your other long side and repeat. You want to pull your canvas taut but not so tight as to bend the wood. Move to the sides and continue in this pattern until you are 5 inches from the corners.
6. Pull the canvas corner close to you toward the top. Place a staple 1/2 inch from the side. Stretch the corner lightly and place your finger on the corner. Bring the canvas edge back toward you in a 1-inch pleat that will be at a 45-degree angle. Bring the side canvas over the pleat so that there is a fold even with the bottom edge closest to you. Staple with two staples at least 1/2 inch apart. Repeat each corner the same way.
7. Stretch with canvas stretcher pliers the canvas between the corner and the 5 inches and finish stapling each side.
