Sunday, February 21, 2010

I have Bought an oil painting supplied on a rolled up canvas how do i frame it ?and hang it ?

I am a professional framer. I would have it done professionally. There are a lot of variables. If it has really thick paint in some areas you run the risk of the paint cracking when it is stretched. Nothing can be done about that. Professional artists will paint on the canvas when it is stretched and it will restretch much better. I see a lot of canvases that come from tourist areas and are done on the canvas that is not stretched. That presents the problem of cracking. It is hard to give you advice without seeing the piece. Your can build a frame and do it your self. I would use 1 x 2 pine. Make sure it is perfectly square. If your piece is large, you will need a brace across mid way so the sides don't bow.You have to use soft wood so you can staple into it. Pull it as tight as you can (we use a tool for stretching) and staple on the back side. If you make your frame small enough so the color comes around the edges (called gallery stretching) you can hang it without a frame. This is very popular right now. Good luck.I have Bought an oil painting supplied on a rolled up canvas how do i frame it ?and hang it ?
A professional picture framer can stretch it and frame it for youI have Bought an oil painting supplied on a rolled up canvas how do i frame it ?and hang it ?
It's probably acrylic, which is not a criticism.


If it IS oil, you're in trouble as it will fall off the canvas when opened out.


Take it to a framer who will stretch it first then frame as desired.
If money is a problem and the painting is not worth a great deal but is of sentimental value, build a wooden frame a little smaller than the canvas and stretch the edges over and tack into place. then it can be inserted in an outer frame, however, paintings can, and are hung without an outer frame. It is unlikely that the oil paint will drop off unless it is very old, however, you should take care when doing this work. You can also use a ply board, cutting to size and tack the canvas to it. (Glue may spoil the canvas)





To hang it, buy two screw-in small hooks, attach them 2/3 of the way up each side. Stretch a length of twine between, leaving it fairy tight because it will stretch with the weight.
If it is a really good oil painting then it must be well worth having it mounted and framed professionally.
The above is all good advice, and i agree that the there is a good chance of the paint cracking if re-stretched, therefore i would offer another solution of simply mounting the canvas on board, avoiding the re-stretching altogether, you don't get the authentic 'look' of the stretched canvas but its an almost imperceptible difference anyway and the painting will be at least crack free. again it would be best to get this done by a professional
I advise you to follow DAkframe麓s advice.





I am a professional artist and the business of restreaching a canvas is not especially easy even for an experienced framer, and there is a good chance that you will damage the picture in the process.
use your common sense, get framed for you, otherwise roll out store flat between sheets of acid free paper, tissue paper is a good bet, like all your other answers you make the call wether the painting is of a value to you. you have been given some very sound advice from lots of professionals on framing and stretching a painted surface, the medium,and quality of base, and method of application all play a role in achieving a success, good luck, regards LF

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