Product
After experimenting with many different wood types, we found Obeche (a.k.a Wawa), imported from Ghana in West Africa, offers the best properties for the making for stretcher frames which are light, knot-free, and most importantly relatively stable. This is especially necessary for the making of large stretched canvases that will be hung unframed, ensuring that the wood does not warp, bend or twist.
Yes - our suppliers are large accredited importers of a variety of wood products, and they ensure that fumigation takes place after cutting during a kiln drying process. They furthermore fumigate the containers that are used to ship the wood to their warehouse in Johannesburg. We will receive fumigation certificates for these activities, and these can be forwarded to our clients on request. Additionally, all machined timber used in the construction of stretchers, frames or other products are further heat treated; treatment in this framework is a process relying on a minimum wood temperature of 56 °C being reached and maintained for at least 30 continuous minutes throughout the wood. This specification has been proven to be effective at killing most wood related quarantine pests at their different life stages. We visually inspect the uncut planks and the final products at our premises to satisfy ourselves that our products are free from infestation. Please note a fumigation certificate can be issued on request
Cotton Duck and Belgian Linen, being natural materials, can ‘relax’ after being stretched, depending on the environmental temperature and humidity. It for this reason that expandable (or strainer) stretcher frames are used in the manufacturing of Professional Artist’s Canvases. The frame corners have a tongue-and-groove construction, that take wooden key wedges. These wedges can be gently tapped with a small metal hammer, working each corner in sequence. Given the cumulative effect of all four corners expanding, only a small movement of the wedges are needed. The above applies to all stretcher frame depths.
Sometimes a small but visible impression is left on the canvas surface, if accidently leaned or bumped against a sharp corner. Because Cotton Duck and Linen react to moisture, the rear of the canvas can be lightly wetted, using either a damp cloth or ideally a spray bottle. This will cause the fibres to contract, tightening the material in that area. This effect is long-lasting. Additionally, in more severe cases or where crease lines appear, the rear of the canvas can be steamed with a cool steam iron, but some caution is required here.
Our Standard-sized Canvases (ready-made canvases) was born
from the want to service those artists who didn’t need a custom-sized canvas,
and was accustomed to working on sizes found in art shops (imported
canvases using imperial sizing). To this end we have a range of set sizes,
starting from 5 x 7 inches, up to 36 x 48 inches.
Although the same canvas (Natural Cotton Duck) and timber (Obeche)
and Primer (Acrylic Gesso) is used as with custom-made canvases, given their format, we can use selected offcuts of the wood and canvas in manufacturing. This allows us to lower the cost of this range and further accommodate those artists wanting more cost-effective product.
Because these sizes are always in stock, we can also deliver Standard-sized canvases sooner than a custom-made order.
Excessively high light levels can cause fading and/or darkening of paintings or prints. Paintings and prints should be displayed and stored in dimly lit areas with no direct sunlight falling on the works. Lights mounted in close proximity to the work should be avoided to circumvent possible damaging heat build-up. With storing artworks, and given woodborer considerations, proper sanitation measures can often eliminate the necessity of other preventative measures. In particular the artwork storage area should be well ventilated, and ideally temperature and humidity controlled. When ventilation is inadequate or in more humid conditions, wood components can reach favorable conditions for the activation and spread of woodborer species. Extremes and fluctuations in humidity and temperature can cause damage due to the expansion and contraction of wood and fabric components of the painting support structure. Recommended temperature levels are between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius. Excessive humidity, aided by dust particles lying on the work, can cause mould growth on the surface of the painting. Our stretcher frames have expandable corner joints with wooden expansion wedges; this allows a slack artwork to be keyed out to a taut state. It must be considered however, that wood and fabrics absorb moisture, causing them to swell on humid days and conversely shrink on dry days or seasons. A soft brush can be used to remove surface dirt from paintings and prints. Alternatively, given that no degradation is visible, cotton swabs dampened with distilled water can be used to remove dirt. Transporting or moving works must be done with great care. Original artworks should always remain on the stretcher frame to avoid undue stresses forming within the paint or underlying priming layers. If an artwork needs to be rolled, the following guidelines should be followed:
- Roll with the painted surface facing outward, protecting the work with soft silicon, wax or glassine paper. The tension produced is less injurious than the compression caused by rolling the work with the painted surface facing inward. The added consequence is that once unrolled, the danger of paint cracking in the artwork is diminished rather than intensified.
- Use a firm core with wide diameter. If rolled too tightly, inevitable cracking can occur - the wider the diameter of the core, the better.
- Make sure the painted surface is not too fresh, and adequately dried for transport.
Services
Delivery within Southern Africa is free of charge, irrespective of the size of the order.
For an average sized order, our typical lead time is 2 to 3 working days. If the order needs to be couriered, please allow an additional 3 days depending whether you are staying in a main center or outlying region