What is a Canvas and Why is it used?

Canvas is a strong, woven fabric—traditionally made from linen or cotton—that artists use as a painting surface. It’s stretched tightly over a wooden frame (called stretcher bars) or sold loose on rolls, pads, or panels.

Think of it as the workhorse surface of painting: durable, versatile, and forgiving.

What canvas is made of
Linen canvas – made from flax

Strongest, most archival

Subtle weave, beautiful surface

More expensive (favored by professionals)

Cotton canvas – most common today

Affordable, flexible, widely available

Slightly less durable than linen but excellent for most uses

Synthetic blends – polyester or cotton-poly

Very stable, less prone to sagging

Not always favored for fine art, but useful

Why artists use canvas

Canvas became popular because it’s:

Lightweight (easier to transport than wood panels)

Flexible (less cracking than rigid surfaces)

Durable when properly primed

Scalable (works for tiny studies or huge paintings)

Common uses of canvas in art
🎨 Painting
Canvas is most often used for:

Acrylic painting (very popular)

Oil painting (classic choice)

Gouache or mixed media (with proper prep)

Raw canvas is almost always primed with gesso so paint doesn’t soak in and damage the fibers.

🖌 Texture & expressive work
Because of its weave, canvas is great for:

Palette knife painting

Heavy brushstrokes (impasto)

Layered, textured surfaces

The tooth of the canvas grabs the paint in a satisfying way.

🧪 Experimental & mixed media
Artists also use canvas for:

Collage

Acrylic pours

Ink, charcoal, pastel (when sealed or treated)

Resin art

Watercolor

You can sand it, texture it, or alter it with gels and grounds.

🖼 Finished art & display
Canvas is ideal for finished pieces because:

It doesn’t need glass

It’s easy to frame or hang unframed

Gallery-wrapped canvases look modern and clean

Types of canvas surfaces
Stretched canvas – ready to paint, mounted on a frame

Canvas panels – canvas glued to board (great for practice)

Canvas pads – sheets for studies

Raw canvas – needs priming, total control

Canvas vs paper (quick comparison)
Canvas = texture, durability, depth

Paper = precision, smoothness, portability

Many artists use both, depending on the goal.