If you are new to the world of art and have just started drawing or painting then there is probably a lot of terminology that you are yet to understand. Artists use a variety of paints, mediums and equipment which you may not have encountered before but it is important to understand the materials at your disposal if you are to make the most of your artistic endeavours.  Stretcher bars are equipment that you may need to use at some point but do you know what they are or how to use them?

What are Stretcher Bars?

A stretcher bar is used to construct the stretching apparatus used by artists in order to mount their canvases. They are usually made from wood and form a framework which will stretch and support a canvas work.

The stretcher is a simple frame and so can be constructed in a variety of ways. The chief differences are the corners. Most commercially available stretchers are made in segments with interlocking corners which simply fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. French stretcher, however, feature mitre joints into which triangular wedges called keys are inserted to tension the canvas.

When fastening canvas to a stretcher it should be attached with the pressure distributed evenly around the frame to minimise warping. With French stretchers the corner joints are not glued or permanently fastened in any way and so the canvas can be re-tensioned as a later date. Canvas does tend to stretch and then sag over time. One method that can be employed is the gallery wrap. Here the canvas is stretched and wrapped around the outside of the stretchers and then secured at the back. A portion of the image is then visible on the edges.

Profiles

The profiles of stretcher bars are best if they are slightly rounded. This helps a framer to obtain clear edges on images which have precise borders and allows the canvas to roll over the profile rather than over a sharp edge which can easily cause the canvas to crack.

The Wood

Stretchers can be made from a variety of woods. To avoid warping most are fashioned from well dried pine. The profile can be strengthened by the use of a cross brace and this is recommended for bar lengths that are over forty inches long. A brace will help to ensure that the frame does not warp and that the painting will hang flat.

Other Uses

Stretcher Bars are not only used for paintings. They are also useful for embroidery projects. Here the fabric is affixed to a stretcher to tension it. This makes it easier to stitch. The fabric can then be removed from the stretcher when the piece is complete. Stretcher bars are also used with printed canvases, photographic work, backdrops in theatres and for framing sports shirts and other garments.

Stretcher bars can be purchased from artist supplies shops. Alternatively those with woodworking skills as well as artistic talent can construct their own!

Article by Sally Stacey