Canvas & Art Boards for the Classroom

An art canvas is a sheet of material that is similar to paper but designed specifically as a painting surface for artists. As such, it is typically stretched across a wooden frame and supported using display easels and stands.

Art canvases are typically white but also come in a variety of other colors including shades of blue, gray, yellow, green, black and red. Due to their design and materials, canvases are quite sturdy.

Canvases come in a wide variety of sizes, catering to all artists’ needs. Typical canvas sizes range from 2.75” x 2.75” to 48”x 60”. Whether filling a large canvas with broad, meaningful strokes, or fitting intricate details onto a small canvas, Staples has the right canvas size for you.

Staples offers two types of canvases. Each requires specific handling and care. Keep reading to learn more.

Canvas Boards

A canvas board is canvas that is glued to a stiff cardboard backing. Their increased stiffness makes them less likely to be damaged during transportation. They are also less expensive and easier to store.

Canvas boards can be framed with a standard picture frame, but they can also be hung without one. For users interested in mounting a canvas board in a picture frame, it is important to remember to remove the glass or leave a ¼ inch of space between the paint and glass since direct contact with paint could damage the art overtime due to temperature and humidity changes.

Stretched Canvas

A stretched canvas is a piece of canvas that has been stretched over a wooden frame and secured with staples on the back side. These are more delicate due to the only support being around the perimeter with no protection in the center. This requires users to exercise more care so as to not damage the material.

Stretched canvas paintings look good on any wall and fit any decor due to their size and the ability to paint on their sides. They tend to be more expensive and take up more space in storage.

Canvases are most commonly used in art classes in schools as supplies for students to use for hands-on learning. They’re also great for individuals looking to practice painting in their free time, using art brushes and other painting supplies.

Once content has been painted on the canvas, it makes great decor for homes and offices. Larger sizes like 48” x 48”, 36” x 60” or 36” x 48” are great for filling up big open spaces that have lots of wall real estate. Smaller canvases like 6.5” x 6.5”, 10” x 10” or 12” x 16” are quite useful for emphasizing a space and making it feel larger than it is. Try mixing and matching to figure out what looks best in your space.

Since users can paint anything they like on art canvases, artistic creativity and imagination is the only limit to how you can use your canvas. Use your artistic sense, however refined, to create a meaningful work that matches any work space. Use them to decorate places like hotels, office suites, restaurants, coffee shops, homes, galleries, art studios, stores and colleges.