Is It Possible to Paint on Unstretched Canvas?
In short: Can you paint on unframed canvas in a roll, without a wooden frame? We explain why it is possible (with a layer of gesso), how to prepare the canvas for painting (a wall, floor, or boards), how to paint it, and finally, how to display the finished painting, on stretcher bars, in a frame with glass, or on wooden battens.
Have you ever wondered if you can paint on canvas that is not stretched on a frame? Canvas that is not stretched on a wooden frame or glued to cardboard or hardboard, but is simply canvas on its own, unframed in a roll? Perhaps you did not have time for the usual preparation, or wanted to experiment with a new technique. Or perhaps you wanted to create a large painting that would need to be transported later and had to be rolled up. Artists who work on large formats (even 2 or 3 meters) often choose this option to save storage space.
Of course, it is possible. The fact that the canvas is not stretched does not mean it has not been primed. If you plan to paint on it with acrylic paints or oil paints, the canvas needs a layer of primer/gesso. This means your work will be completely safe and durable, whether or not the canvas is stretched on a frame. Of course, there are a few things you should know about painting on this kind of surface, including how to do it and how to store or display the painting afterward.
First, you may know that when preparing a canvas, you have two options: buy one that is already prepared for painting with acrylic paints or oil paints, or buy plain linen/cotton canvas and prime it yourself with gesso/primer. However, if you decide to paint on unstretched canvas, the second option would be quite complicated. Why? To prime and prepare plain canvas by the meter so it is suitable for painting, you first have to stretch it over a frame (or something similar), apply several coats of gesso, let it dry thoroughly, and only then remove it from the frame and use it. You cannot prime canvas by the meter without stretching it over a frame. It would wrinkle, and once the gesso dried, you would not have a flat surface.
Canvas in a roll, which you can buy in several options (including black canvas in a roll), would be a safer and easier option for you. Perhaps you have never worked with this kind of canvas, so you are not sure exactly what it looks like or how it will behave without “support,” but there is no need to worry. Thanks to its coating, it has a certain firmness and will feel more like paper than fabric.
How to paint on canvas in a roll?
You can place canvas from a roll on a wall, floor, or wooden board if it is a smaller size. You can secure it with strong adhesive tape, nail it to a wall (as close to the edges as possible, of course), or spread it on the floor and use heavy objects on the edges to keep the canvas taut. For those who work in abstraction or take inspiration from artists such as Jackson Pollock, placing a large canvas on the floor, where they can even walk on it or sit on one part while painting another, will be a real pleasure. You may miss the familiar spring of canvas you are used to when working on a frame, because the canvas will have a hard surface underneath it.
As for the painting technique itself, there are almost no differences compared with painting on stretched canvas, whether you use oil paints or acrylic paints. Use your usual technique, brushes, and paints. The only thing to keep in mind is to leave an unpainted section measuring 1 or 2 cm on each side of the canvas. This section will protect the painted area inside when you roll up the painting, or you can fold it over the edges if you want to mount the painting on a frame.
How to display a painting like this?
If you wish, you can mount the painted canvas on a blind frame. However, this can cause problems, especially with larger sizes. You need to measure carefully and check what size frame you actually need, because the canvas stretches a little when you stretch it (1-2 %). Then take care when folding the canvas over the edges of the frame. Make sure there are no thick layers of paint in that area, as they could crack. If you are not sure you can do all this correctly yourself, it is a good idea to take the painting to a framing shop, where they can do it for you.
You can display smaller formats in a glass-fronted frame, as you would a drawing or watercolor. If you do not want reflections on the glass to show on your painting and think they would spoil the effect, there is a solution: antireflective glass.
Another option is to use wooden bars placed only along the top and bottom of the canvas (like the world maps you had in geography class). This can be a great solution for abstract compositions, minimalist interiors, or so-called ethnic interiors with a natural, minimalist style.
Frequently asked questions
Can you paint on unstretched canvas?
Yes. The fact that the canvas isn’t stretched on a frame doesn’t mean it needs no preparation. It must have a layer of gesso/primer. This makes the artwork durable and safe, whether or not it is later mounted on a frame.
How do you secure rolled canvas for painting?
You can attach it to a wall or board with strong tape, nail it down near the edges, or spread it on the floor and hold the edges down with heavy objects to keep it taut.
Is the painting technique different?
Hardly at all. You use the same paints (oil paints or acrylic paints), brushes, and techniques as you would on stretched canvas. The difference is that there’s no give. There’s a hard surface behind the canvas, so your brushstrokes don’t “bounce.”
Why leave a 1–2 cm unpainted edge?
This edge protects the painted area when you roll up the canvas. It is also the part you fold over the edges if you later mount the painting on a frame.
How do you display a painting on unstretched canvas?
There are three options: mount it on a stretcher frame (allow for 1-2% stretching when stretching it), frame smaller sizes behind glass (with anti-reflective glass if you prefer), or hang it from wooden bars at the top and bottom.
Read more from our blog
- Can you paint on canvas with watercolors?
- 5 tips for avoiding paint waste
- Do you know what color theory is, and what the color wheel is?
Paint big, store with ease
Canvas in a roll opens up space for large formats and freedom to work. Get some canvas and start creating.
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