The Differences of Canvas

A Brush of Southern believes an informed artist is an artist who will be confident in their purchases. In the world of art supplies trying to find a simple pencil can be overwhelming but we’re here to help.

First off, a canvas is fabric used as a painting service. You can stretch your fabric on to a wooden frame, cardboard backing or other any other sturdy material. Most retail stores have ready-made canvas boards that will last for a little while. To get the most bang for your buck (that will also last longer) go ahead and buy a roll of canvas and stretch it yourself.

On our website we off a variety of canvas rolls. They range from cotton to synthetic, primed and unprimed. All of these words mean different things for the type of art you’re trying to make.

Let’s go into the different types of fabric:

Cotton

Cotton is known for its soft texture, abundance, and cheap costs compared to other fabrics. 

The advantages for cotton are that it also stretches easily and takes oil and acrylic paint very well.

Linen

Linen while more expensive than cotton is the fabric most used by artists because of its longevity. If you want your art to stand the test of time then linen is the way to go. 

The advantages for linen are that it will last a long time, it won’t go brittle, and will stand up to multiple layers of paint.

Synthetic

Synthetic fibers tend to differ from natural fibers. Depending on the composition of the fiber it can last as long as linen while also being cheaper.  Synthetic fibers differ from manufacturer to manufacturer so it is best to research each brand of closely to see which one works best for you.

 The advantages for synthetic fiber are that it holds up to any type of paint, lasts longer than cotton, and can give you all the benefits of linen at a cheaper cost.

Primed or unprimed:

Primed canvas has had a layer, or more, of gesso applied that effects how much paint the canvas will absorb and how bright colors will appear. Unprimed canvas rolls tend to be cheaper than primed ones but you can always prime linen or cotton canvas yourself to save money.