DIY a GIANT Artist Canvas
Have you ever yearned to own a giant piece of artwork but the cost was prohibitive? Or you knew you could create some awesome abstract paintings, but buying large canvases would cost too much. Well, for those hesitant artists, I have this quick tutorial for building your own GIANT canvas!
Materials:
- 2×2″ boards for frame supports (two sides, top, bottom and center support)
- Kreg Jig and pocket hole screws
- Drill
- White fabric (canvas material would be best, but use what you have)
- Staple gun and staples
- Paint brush
- Gesso (if you don’t have gesso, primer would probably work fine)
Instructions:
Cut your 2×2″ lumber down to size. Cut your top and bottom the full widths. Cut the two sides and the center support 3″ shorter to accommodate the height of the added top and bottom pieces. Note, if your canvas is portrait (instead of landscape), your support will be a center horizontal brace instead of vertical as shown.
Use your kreg jig to drill pocket holes in the two ends of the sides and the support piece.
Use your drill and pocket hole screws to secure the pieces together.
Lay your fabric on a clean surface.
Wrap the sides up and secure with staples. If your fabric is thin, you may want to fold over the edges once or twice before stapling.
Continue stapling the top and bottom of the fabric until it is taut and completely stapled around the perimeter of your canvas frame.
Prime your canvas by painting gesso on the entire canvas. This will seal the holes in the fabric and prep it for painting.
When the gesso is fully dried, you are ready to paint!
Stay tuned next week  for a video tutorial on painting your own abstract ocean painting!
You may have noticed it on my Fall mantle.
Happy Fall Y’all!
P.s. As if the planets were in alignment in the blogsphere, Kelly shared this great round up of 36 DIY art projects you can create on your new art canvas!
Harbor Freight sells a pocket jig for much less money than the Kreg. I’ve used and own both and I’d go with the Harbor Freight if this wasn’t something you wanted to invest heavily in. It works just as well with softer woods like pine.
Yep, it’s that Kreg jig that makes it easy peasy! Great tutorial Brittany!
I’ve always had to finagle someone into building one for me. Maybe it’s time to get a kreg jig.
Hey, little tip: sometimes, depending on the material, the moisture of the gesso can cause the canvas to give a bit, not fit taut. If you take a damp sponge on the BACK side (unpainted), the moisture from the sponge will match the gessoed side and you’ll have a taut fit.
Everyone once in a while I have a DIY tip. 😉
Awesome tip Colleen! Thanks for sharing!!!
Great post & love the painting Brittany!
This is absolutely stunning! The colors are awesome, please do tell us when you post what colors, what paints..etc. I could look at this all day! Beautiful!!!!!!
Love this idea and what a fabulous tutorial. I would love for you to link up to Inspire Me this afternoon. Party goes live at 2:30 PT. http://www.astrollthrulife.net Hope to see you there. Hugs, Marty
So easy! Thanks for sharing such a great idea! Those large canvases are super expensive, this is much more wallet friendly!
Awesome! I’ve been wanting to put a big canvas in our guest bathroom and this would definitely be a better option cost-wise =)
Ooh that is perfect planet alignment! 🙂 That piece is absolutely STUNNING. Jaw-dropping. Is it okay if I add this to the roundup? It’s too good to miss!
Kelly, absolutely. Thanks for the offer. BTW, I’ll have a video tutorial for the painting next Monday.
This is a great tutorial, especially for making a large canvas. Can’t wait to try this!
Awesome!!! Truly, I don’t know what else to say.
Great DIY…I have never heard of gesso before your post!