Thank you to DAP Products for sponsoring this post. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy. Art is so important to finishing spaces in your home! And I have learned that it’s best to spend a bit more to get BIG art that really makes an impact. But bigger art costs more and custom framing it makes it totally cost-prohibitive for our budget. That’s why we almost always build our own DIY art frames! We purchased this gorgeous art canvas by Jen Florentine to add to our living room art collection over a year ago. It sits on our DIY art ledge and it’s HUGE (70″ x 48″). I knew it would look unfinished without a frame, but framing it through the company I purchased it from was going to cost a whopping $902. We were already splurging on the big canvas art, so there was no way we could also spend $902 on a frame for it. We spent less than $40 to build our own that looks exactly like the one I would have chosen that cost $902. That’s a savings of over $850. WOW. Read on for the full tutorial.
DIY Canvas Frame (It’s Cheap & Easy)
Last Updated on March 23, 2023 Canvases can be extremely expensive to have custom framed. But you can save your budget and build yourself a DIY canvas frame. It’s incredibly easy, so it don’t need to be a skilled DIYer to do it. And it’s also incredibly inexpensive. Best of all, it finishes and elevates your canvas art beautifully! In this post, I’m sharing the step-by-step tutorial for how to build this DIY frame for any canvas art.
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Thank you to DAP Products for sponsoring this post. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here for my full disclosure policy. Art is so important to finishing spaces in your home! And I have learned that it’s best to spend a bit more to get BIG art that really makes an impact. But bigger art costs more and custom framing it makes it totally cost-prohibitive for our budget. That’s why we almost always build our own DIY art frames! We purchased this gorgeous art canvas by Jen Florentine to add to our living room art collection over a year ago. It sits on our DIY art ledge and it’s HUGE (70″ x 48″). I knew it would look unfinished without a frame, but framing it through the company I purchased it from was going to cost a whopping $902. We were already splurging on the big canvas art, so there was no way we could also spend $902 on a frame for it. We spent less than $40 to build our own that looks exactly like the one I would have chosen that cost $902. That’s a savings of over $850. WOW. Read on for the full tutorial.
How to Build a DIY Canvas Frame
Materials & Tools Needed
- Tape measure
- 1 x 2 inch pine boards
- For our large canvas (70″ x 48″) we used (2) 8-foot boards and (2) 6-foot boards. The wood cost us a total of $26.56. Not bad!
You can watch an overview of the tutorial in the short video below before reading the detailed instructions 🙂
Time needed: 1 hour
Follow the steps below to build an easy but beautiful flush mount canvas frame for under $50 and in less than 1 hour!
- Measure your canvas & check to ensure it is perfectly square. It’s important to confirm that your canvas is perfectly square because if it’s not, your miter angled cuts will not be exactly 45 degrees. Fortunately, our canvas was perfectly square. YAY. And our canvas measured exactly 70″ x 48″.
- Miter cut your wood to length. Note that when you are measuring for mitered cuts, the SHORTEST part of your miter needs to correspond to the length of your canvas. In other words, if you cut your wood so that the longest portion of the mitered wood is the length of your wood, it will be too short. To avoid this common mistake, we mark the canvas measurement on the piece of wood and draw the miter mark before cutting it. Trust me, if you just mark the length, you might end up getting confused and cutting it too short (ask me how I know).
This is how each miter looks after being cut and positioned on the canvas.
- Glue and clamp the corners. Once all of your wood is cut, move your canvas out of the way. Add DAP Weldwood Instant Adhesive to each mitered edge and use your corner clamps to ensure each corner stays perfectly square and tight. I prefer using DAP Weldwood Instant Adhesive instead of regular wood glue for a project like this because it cures so much more quickly, which enabled us to put the canvas in the frame MUCH sooner than we would have been able to otherwise.
- Nail the corners of the frame together. We used 1-inch pin nails (23 gauge) to nail the corners of the frame together. Any small, finishing nails would work!
- Fill nail holes and any gaps. Use your DAP Plastic Wood-X to fill any nail holds and any gaps in your mitered joints. I love it because it goes on pink and dries to a natural color, so you don’t have to guess when it’s ready to sand. And it accepts stain beautifully. Once it’s dry, sand it smooth.
- Stain the frame. I applied one coat of this stain. I really wanted the look of raw, light wood. The stain darkened it only slightly, which is exactly what I wanted.
- Insert your canvas and nail it into place. We nailed the canvas into place with 1 1/2 18 gauge nails. We inserted them from the canvas side so that we wouldn’t create additional nail holes on the frame.
That’s it! It looks so much more finished and high-end now. And instead of costing us $902, it cost us less than $40!
Why bother framing a canvas?
Unframed canvases just look unfinished. And if your canvas has coloring that is similar to your walls, it will kind of blend in rather than stand out, which probably isn’t what you want. You can see how the entire top portion of our unframed canvas art just kind of blended into our walls painted Pure White by Sherwin-Williams in the photo below.
See how much better it looks now that it is framed? It stands out and makes a statement, which is kind of the whole point of big art, right?!
This canvas sits on the DIY art ledge in our family room, but I also snapped a photo of it hanging on the DIY board and batten accent wall in our upstairs hallway so you can get a better look at it. We are so happy with how it turned out. And it only took us around 1 hour and $40 to make it. Total win.
Other posts you may enjoy:
- Huge DIY Art Frames For Less than $20 Each
- How to Make a Picture Frame for LARGE Prints
- How to Display Art On Any Smart TV + Affordable TV Update
- DIY Art Ledge: An Easy Step-by-Step Tutorial
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Ideas for creating lengthy canvas paintings
The popularity of oil on canvas art has been increasing in recent years. Many people are interested in this type of art because of the unique look and feel that it creates. In this article, we will discuss 7 critical facts about oil on canvas art. We will also provide some tips for choosing the right artist and purchasing oil on canvas art.
1. Oil on canvas art is a type of painting created by applying oil paint directly onto a pre-prepared canvas, usually made of linen or cotton. The canvases are usually stretched over wooden frames and primed with several layers of gesso, which helps the oil to stick better and gives the painting a smooth finish.
2. This type of art has been popular since the Renaissance period in Europe, when artists like da Vinci and Michelangelo began using oil paints to create their masterpieces. Since then, many famous painters such as Monet and Van Gogh have used oil on canvas to create some of their most iconic works of art.
3. By using multiple layers of paint, the artist can create an image with a unique texture and depth. The subtle blending of colors creates lifelike images that are incredibly detailed and difficult to achieve in other mediums.
4. Oil on canvas art is extremely durable, making it ideal for long-term preservation. This type of artwork will last for generations if cared for properly and stored in the right conditions.
5. While oil paintings tend to be more expensive than other types of art, there is a wide variety of oil painting styles available at different price points. From abstract pieces to realistic portraits, you can find something that fits your budget and style preferences.
6. When choosing an artist or gallery to purchase from, take time to research their reputation and read customer reviews. It’s important to make sure the artist or gallery you’re buying from is reputable and can provide a quality product.
7. Make sure to properly prepare the wall space where you will hang your oil on canvas artwork. The surface should be smooth and level, as any bumps or unevenness could damage the painting over time. Additionally, use light-blocking curtains or blinds so that direct sunlight does not affect your artwork.
By understanding these 7 facts about oil on canvas art, you can ensure that you are purchasing a quality piece of artwork for your home or office. Whether it’s an abstract painting or a realistic portrait, taking the time to find the right artist and purchase the right painting will ensure that you have a piece of artwork that you can treasure for years to come.
Guide To Purchasing Oil On Canvas Art
1. Research The Artist: It is important to do your research and get to know the artist you are purchasing from. You want to ensure that their style of art aligns with your vision for the piece. Visit their website or social media page, read reviews, and talk to people who have purchased artwork from them. This will give you a good sense of the artist’s reputation, trustworthiness, and skill.
2. Look At Photos Of The Actual Artwork: Photographs are a great way to see an artwork in detail before you buy it. Ask the artist for photographs of the exact painting you plan to purchase so that you can be sure that what you see is what you get. Also ask if the artwork has been restored or repaired in some way.
3. Consider Size And Framing: When you are looking for oil on canvas art, consider the size of the piece and whether it fits into your space. Be sure to factor in the framing as well—some pieces may look better with a certain type of frame or color.
4. Check The Price: When you shop for art, it’s important to understand pricing and get a good deal. Ask the artist about their pricing—are there discounts available? Also be sure to read through any return policies or warranties that come with your purchase.
5. Read Reviews And Testimonials: Before you buy, take a look at what other people have experienced and said about the artist. Reviews and testimonials can give you a better sense of their quality and professionalism. Ask around or read online reviews to get an idea of how the artist works, communicates, and delivers artwork. This will help you make sure that your experience with them is as positive as possible.
Oil on canvas art is a popular choice for many art lovers because of its unique appearance. If you are thinking about purchasing oil on canvas art, be sure to keep the seven critical facts we discussed in mind. These tips will help you choose the right artist and purchase the perfect piece of oil on canvas art for your home or office.
