How to Frame Canvas Art in 7 Simple Steps

Photo via Amanda Garvin

How to Stretch Canvas Art

Rolled art is often easier to ship, so if you ordered a piece of canvas art online, it’ll likely come rolled. Rolled canvas art also doesn’t loosen during transport like stretched canvas can.

To stretch your rolled canvas art before framing it, you need to gather a few items and follow these steps.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Something to weigh down art, like books or paperweights
• Tape measure
• Stretcher frame (we'll teach you how to measure for one in Step 1)
• Tablecloth or craft paper
• Heavy-duty staple gun with 1/4-inch stainless staples

Step 1: Measure the Canvas

Place your canvas face up on a flat surface. Weigh down the corners for an accurate measurement. Use the measuring tape and note the height and width of your canvas to see what size stretcher frame you’ll need. 

Your canvas art will be stretched over the stretcher bar with the corners folded and stapled, so be sure to leave enough room in your measurements to make that possible. Leave an average of 3 inches all around to allow for proper stretching. For example: if your painting’s height is 27 inches and the width is 15 inches, you’ll want a stretcher bar frame that’s 24 inches high and 12 inches wide.

Step 2: Prepare the Work Area

Cover your work area with a clean tablecloth or craft paper. Place your art face down in the center of the work area.

Step 3: Align the Stretcher Bar

Place the stretcher bar in the middle of the canvas. Line up the center of the stretcher bar with the center of the canvas art, using the measuring tape and working from one side at a time to determine the proper alignment. 

Step 4: Fold and Staple the Canvas

Starting from the edge closest to you, fold the canvas over the stretcher bar. Place a staple in the center of the length of folded canvas to attach it to the frame. Repeat for each side of the canvas. 

Once the canvas is stapled on each side, turn it over to check the alignment. If you’re happy with it, proceed to the next step. If it needs to be adjusted, remove the staples and start again at Step 3.

Step 5: Tighten and Staple the Canvas

Starting at the bottom, gently pull the canvas and begin stapling the rest of the canvas to the stretcher bar. Start about 2 inches from the staple in the center, stretching and stapling as you go along the frame, leaving the corners unstapled (they will get folded and sealed in the next step). Do not pull the canvas too hard; you want the image to remain centered.

Step 6: Fold and Staple the Corners

Fold the corners of the canvas, laying one side over the other, then staple the canvas where the edges of each stretcher bar meet in each corner of the frame.

Photo via Nicole Juarez DIY

How to Frame Stretched Canvas Art

Once you’ve stretched your rolled canvas, or if your art piece was already stretched, you are ready for framing. Adding a frame gives a stretched canvas art piece a finished look, perfect for creating a beautiful gallery wall.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Tape measure
• 5 1-inch x 2-inch boards
• Miter saw
• Wood glue
• Nail gun
• Finishing nails
• Wood stain with polyurethane
• Paint brush
• All-purpose glue
• Canvas art
• Cardboard and scissors (if needed)

Step 1: Measure the Canvas Art

Use a tape measure to measure the height and width of your stretched canvas. Write down the measurements, which you’ll use when cutting the boards for your frame.

Step 2: Cut the Boards

Use your miter saw to cut the ends of four 1-inch x 2-inch boards at a 45-degree angle to the length of the measurements you noted in Step 1.

Step 3: Make Corner Braces

Corner braces will allow your canvas art to be recessed and will make attaching the canvas to the frame much easier than trying to balance the canvas while gluing it to the frame.

Using the final 1-inch x 2-inch boards, cut four corners braces, about six inches long each, with the miter saw set at a 45-degree angle on the end of each piece.

Step 4: Assemble the Frame

Assemble the frame by using wood glue on each of the mitered ends of the four boards you cut and attaching them to form a rectangle or square—the same shape as your canvas art. Use the nail gun to place two nails near each end of the boards to join each corner together.

Attach each of the corner braces with finishing nails so that they are against the back of the frame on each corner. Run a thin bead of wood glue where each end of the brace meets the frame.

Step 5: Let the Frame Dry

The frame needs to fully dry to handle it for staining and framing your canvas art. Follow the drying time suggested by the wood glue manufacturer.

Step 6: Stain the Frame and Let Dry

Use a paint brush to apply a wood stain with polyurethane in it to your frame. Let the frame fully dry (48 hours is ideal).

Step 7: Frame the Canvas

Now that your frame is fully dry, it’s time to place your canvas art into it. With the frame facing upwards (the braces on the bottom), add a few drops of glue to the center of each brace. Drop the canvas into the frame, using cardboard spacers if needed to center the canvas inside the frame. Let the glue dry for 24 hours, then turn the frame over and place two finishing nails into the center of each brace to permanently secure the canvas art to the braces. 

Photo via Mother Daughter Projects

How to Determine Placement of Framed Canvas Art

Once you have your canvas art framed, it’s time to hang it. Before hanging, it’s a good idea to plan out where you’ll be placing your artwork, so it doesn’t seem off-kilter when you look at it.

Museums are experts when it comes to hanging art. Their goal is to have the artwork at a visual level so that visitors can enjoy it to the fullest. To do this, they hang art at eye level. Follow this simple formula:

1. Measure the height of the canvas art.
2. Divide that number in half. This is the center of the canvas. 
3. Add 60 inches to that total (eye level for the average adult population). That number will be the distance from the floor to the top of the framed canvas.
4. Mark a spot on your wall after measuring and proceed to hang the artwork (we'll teach you how to hang canvas art in the following sections of this guide).
5. The exception to this rule is hanging your artwork over furniture or a fireplace mantel. In that case, hang your canvas artwork so that the bottom of the canvas frame is between 8 inches and 12 inches above the top of the furniture or mantle.

Because canvas can be a little heavier (especially when a wood frame is involved), it’s imperative that you hang your canvas art on a stud. Use a stud finder and adjust your canvas position based on where a stud is in the wall.

How to Hang Framed Canvas Art with Sawtooth Brackets

Sawtooth brackets are made for picture-hanging and provide strength and stability to the piece that’s hung on the wall. You can find sawtooth brackets and hanger hooks at any hardware store.

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Sawtooth bracket with nails and screws
• Pencil for marking measurements 
• Measuring tape
• Screwdriver
• Hanger hook
• Hammer

Step 1: Find the Center

Use the measuring tape to find the center of the top of the stretcher bar at the back of your artwork. Mark the center with a dot.

Step 2: Nail the Bracket

Using the nail that comes with the bracket, nail the bracket in place using the dot as a guide. The center tooth will line up with the dot. Screw both sides of the bracket into the frame with the screws that came with the bracket.

Step 3: Measure for Placement

Using the formula in the previous section, mark a dot on the wall where you plan to hang your canvas art. 

Step 4: Insert a Nail in the Wall

Hammer a nail into a hanger hook on the spot of the wall you marked. 

Step 5: Hang the Canvas

Hang the canvas by placing the centermost tooth of the bracket on the nail. 

How to Hang Framed Canvas Art with Eye Hooks

Most framing shops use eye hooks for canvas art because they allow for easy adjustment once the picture is hung. 

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Pencil for marking measurements 
•  Measuring tape
• Two eye hooks
•   Picture wire
•  Flathead nail
• Hammer

Step 1: Mark the Frame

Mark both sides (left and right) of the canvas art frame with a pencil dot, about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the frame, using measuring tape as needed.

Step 2: Attach the Eye Hooks

Screw the eye hooks into each side of the frame where the pencil dots are. 

Step 3: Attach Picture Wire

Measure the width of the frame. Add 8 inches to the measurement and cut a piece of picture wire to that length. Tie each end of the wire to the screw, stringing it through the eye then tying a knot to secure it. Wrap any excess around the threaded part of the eye hook. Leave room so the wire is loose enough to hang. 

Step 4: Measure for Placement

Mark a dot on the wall where you plan to hang your canvas art (use the formula in the above section: “How to Determine Placement of Framed Canvas Art”). 

Step 5: Insert a Nail in the Wall

Hammer a flat-head nail into the spot of the wall you marked. Make sure to leave a bit of space between the wall and the nail head.

Step 6: Hang the Canvas

Hang the canvas by placing the center of the wire over the nail. Adjust by sliding the art left or right as needed so it hangs level.

How to Hang Framed Canvas Art with Adhesive Strips

Adhesive strips are not only easy to use but also prevent your walls nail damage and holes. But, it’s essential to buy the correct adhesive strips for the weight of your canvas art. Check the corner of the package for how many pounds each strip can hold and use double the amount needed for added stability. 

Tools and Materials Needed:

• Scale
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Straight level
• Adhesive strips (enough to hold double the weight stated)

Step 1: Weight Canvas

Weigh your canvas art on a scale so you know which adhesive strip strength is needed.

Step 2: Measure for Placement

Mark a dot on the wall where you plan to hang your framed canvas art. Use your level to draw a straight line equal to the top width of your canvas art frame.

Step 3: Attach the Adhesive strips

Following the manufacturer’s directions, attach the adhesive strips to each frame corner, top and bottom. Let the strips set for the required time so the adhesive sticks, pushing down with your fingertips if the instructions recommend doing so.

Step 4: Hang the Canvas

Remove the wall-facing backing to the adhesive strip and press the canvas onto the wall, using your pencil line as a guide. You’ve now finished hanging your canvas art!

Do you have canvas wall art in your home? Tell us about it in the comments; we love to hear from you!