Masterart produces many of the very large canvases utilised by New Zealands leading artists. Where stability and long term durability is concerned, Masterart Large Format canvases should be your first consideration. Utilising our standard Masterart Professional Grade timber stretcher bars and bracing system, Masterart Large Format Canvases are available in metric sizes starting at 1000 x 1000 mm.
Extra Heavy Duty SE45 Stretchers are made from Laminated timber to produce a stretcher bar that is 42 mm deep x 60 mm. While somewhat heavier than standard Heavy Duty stretchers, SE45 stretched canvases are stronger and less susceptable to warping and bending. One of the distinct advantages of additional strength is there is less tendency for the bracing to bow out when the canvas absorbs atmospheric moisture which increases the compression forces on the stretcher bar.
Extra Deep SE65 Stretchers are made from Laminated timber to produce a stretcher bar that is 62 mm deep x 60 mm. While somewhat heavier than standard Heavy Duty stretchers, SE45 stretched canvases are stronger and less susceptable to warping and bending. One of the distinct advantages of additional strength is there is less tendency for the bracing to bow out when the canvas absorbs atmospheric moisture which increases the compression forces on the stretcher bar.
Masterart stretcher frames are all produced in-house to enable us to keep close track on quality control and so we can produce the many customised sizes and shapes that our clients require. While may of our customers are happy to have an off-the-shelf canvas, we receive many requests for unique sizes and depths.
Masterart Stretcher Bars are manufactured from selected clear grade, kiln dried radiata pine. After the timber is milled to our specifications it is then left to reach a moisture equilibrium at our workshop before each length of timber is then optimised to obtain the best lengths that we can achieve out of each length of timber.
Only the straightest timber is used for canvas stretcher bars and the longest lengths are set aside for producing Large Format Canvases or for laminating to make our SE45 and SE65 Extra Deep stretcher bars.
Masterart imports all of its canvas cloth requirements directly from the procucers of the cloth. Because Large format canvases are subject to considerable stresses that are imparted by the stretching proces and the continuous cycle of tightening and relaxing that are a natural consequence of absorbing and releasing moisture from the atmosphere only the strongest canvas cloth can be used.
Masterart Prefers to utilise their unique RT12 canvas which is a blend of 48% cotton and 52% polyester fibers which produces an extreemly strong, rip resilient cloth. The actual weight of the raw canvas is 350 gsm (12 oz) before the multiple layers of acrylic ground are applied so we end up with a finished weight of about 510 gsm.