3 Reasons to Buy Unstretched Canvas

Thursday, June 8, 2023

I would like to disclose that I include affiliate links in this article so that I benefit from them and you do as well! If you happen to click on a link or buy a product from that link, I receive a small commission.

Are canvases too expensive for you, and you're looking for a way to make as much art as you want while saving money? Is there too much artwork crowding your living space? Are you just looking for a new way to paint/draw/splatter/whatever it is you do?

This article is for you. There can be both advantages and disadvantages of painting on unstretched canvas; personally, I believe that there are more pros than cons. Let's dive into it:

---

1. It's cheaper

Canvas is already expensive, period; however, it's even more expensive when it's stretched. A 2-pack of 11x14 canvases is $12 on Amazon, which is convenient if you work small. If you like to or are thinking about working large — for example, 48x60, that price easily skyrockets past $200.

Even if you try to DIY it and make your own stretchers, the price of wood has gotten ridiculous; why pay the extra when you don't have to? Unless you work really small, the only option that is cost effective is unstretched canvas.

This unstretched, primed canvas on Amazon is $80 — it comes in a roll and is 63" wide by 6 yards long. That is a lot more bang for your buck when comparing how much that same amount would be stretched.

Here is the link to the same thing just unprimed for only $60. Keep in mind the cost of the gesso that you will need to prime it and decide what option is best for you. This is the one that I bought and am currently using for a lot of my paintings; I like the feeling I get from priming it myself which is why I went with this option.

2. It's easier to transport & store

If you've ever lugged around a stretched canvas, you know how awkward it is to carry around and transport. I also bet that you've stood in the middle of your room with a finger to your chin wondering...

"Where am I going to put this?" There is no doubt that it can be awkward to store as well.

Most are bulky, and it's difficult to find somewhere to store large canvases where it looks purposeful. It's not that I don't want people to see my paintings, but I usually like my personal space a little more tidied up.

Unstretched, on the other hand, is the perfect solution to that. It's very pliable: It can be rolled up even when you take it off the big canvas roll itself and is a lot more storage effective. You could easily store it somewhere in a chest or bench and fit quite a few rolls in there. It's also a lot lighter in weight: you can carry more at one time when transporting multiple paintings.

Here is a picture of how I store my unstretched canvas for now until I get more organized. I simply store it vertically in the corner of my room. The three large paintings I've also rolled up and stored there. Overall, it's very convenient.

3. It gives you more freedom

This is an in-progress picture of one of the three large paintings I've worked on in the past. If you would like to see the finished painting, you can find it in the "Work" section of this website.

This is an example of my painting process which I ended up liking a lot better than sitting in an uncomfortable position on the ground. It's easier on your back and neck because you can stand; it's also a quicker transition to be able to stand back and look at your work from a distance.

It's also a lot easier to tape or nail an unstretched canvas to the wall than it is to do the same thing with a canvas on a stretcher. The only problem I had was my canvas continuously falling down. I recommend nailing it to the wall if you are able, otherwise you may have the same problem I had.

Not to mention, if you're debating whether to buy unstretched canvas, it may just be freeing in general to try another method. I believe, as artists, it is important to try something new and unknown because that is the nature of art.

---

If you liked this article and would prefer to read more that are similar, I invite you to most importantly click on the red heart down below; this gives my article a like and only takes a couple seconds!

If you would like to...

-direct message me more one-on-one, you can do so under the "bio" section.

-see what I have for sale in terms of apparel and household items, click the "store" section.

-look at my collection of original works, you can view that in the "work" section.

Whether or not you view other parts of my website, just know that I appreciate you taking the time to scroll to the bottom and read this. Thank you!

If this article was overall helpful to you, I would appreciate if you gave this a quick share. The links are listed down below; only taking a few seconds out of your day could possibly help someone else, and it helps me out as well!