stretched canvas

Sharonx

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
May 27, 2003
Posts
219
Loc
Watertown, SD
I have a customer who is looking for a very large stretched canvas that is finished on the edges so it can be hung without a frame. Do any of you have a source for these? Thanks for the help. Sharon
 
Do you mean a blank canvas, or a piece of art? The style of canvas is called a "Gallery Wrap" and is available in a bunch of sizes. If your customer wants art like that, I would recommend unstretched 'art by the pound' and do a gallery wrap with it.
 
I can't help wondering why someone would approach a frame shop for a frameless canvas...

If she is looking for blank canvas to paint on, your local art supply shop should have plenty. If not, they can order it through their regular suppliers.
 
Sharon, Here is my advice as a framer who also sells art supplies. Those "Gallery Wrap" canvases on those slide together stretcher bars tend to have rather weak corners and often after they've been painted end up looking sort of like a butterfly with opposing corners pulling up. I tell my customers if they want a better quality product that I can make and stretch a better canvas. Otherwise they should realize that they may either need a frame after all or to fasten it directley to the wall. We do sell a lot of gallery wrap canvases but sometimes you get what you pay for (they are nice and cheap) and sometimes they will pay for better quality. Terry
 
Sorry for the confusion. She wants a piece of art. She is an excellent customer and I told her I would check this out. However, I don't seem to have a source for this type of art. thanks again. Sharon
 
Sharon, your customer might try looking on Ebay under 'self-representing artists'.

Many of the artists who sell their work there offer gallery wrapped canvases.

Evidently they see you-don't-need-a-frame as an incentive to buyers.

I've given up harumphing about it.

Kit
 
Sharon,

Many artists who paint on gallery wrapped canvases leave the edges unfinished. I have asked artists to go back and paint the edges for a client. This means either wrapping the painting around the edges or simply painting them a complimentary solid color. The artists are usually happy to oblige. She should offer to reimburse for their time, though.

If she has an artist in mind, there is always the commission route. If she is not ready for the committment, maybe she can simply pay the difference in cost between a standard canvas and gallery wrapped so the artist can paint freely and she is under no obligation to buy (probably a sub $50 investment).

There have been a few times where my clients have requested the exposed look, but the piece we found was too shallow to pull it off. They were very satisfied with the floater frame effect. Contemporary, slick, and finished.

Hope this helps,

Danielle
 
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