DIY! Building a Stretcher & Stretching a Canvas with Sophia

Synopsis

Join painter Sophia Consta as she guides you through the process of assembling a stretcher frame and stretching the canvas, all from the comfort of your couch at home. Learn how to tap the frame at perfect right angles, avoid creases in the fabric and discover why it’s called a stretcher frame.

Tools

For the stretcher frame, you will need 2 stretcher bars of the same length for each side. From 1 m side length, it is advisable to buy 1-2 additional cross strips for stabilization. You can buy stretcher bars at art stores, for example. You will also need: 1 rubber mallet. 1 meter rule or 1 long piece of string.

You will then need a fabric for stretching. This can be found in art stores, for example, and can be made of linen, cotton, hemp or jute. Each fabric has a slightly different texture. You will also need: 1 pair of scissors. 1 one-sided hand stapler with stapling needles. 1 canvas stretcher. 1 slotted screwdriver. Have fun!

Biography

After studying art history in Würzburg, Sophia Consta (She/Her) pursued painting and graphic art at the State Academy of Fine Arts Karlsruhe with Prof. Gustav Kluge. She also spent a year at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts de Paris …