Week 12: Stretching Canvas

Today, we continued working on our canvases. I was a little late arriving, but saw most of the first demonstration.  Prof. Garguilo did a second canvas and then set us to work on our own. We worked in groups of three, and for our first, larger canvasses, that worked out great. The hardest part was learning to fold the corners. I am grateful for the fact that my first job required wrapping gifts, that mom made us learn to sew, and that origami was popular when we were kids.  It made it easier for me to figure out the folds.  Prof. Garguilo did tell us that if our fingertips weren't sore by the time we finished, we weren't stretching hard enough. Well, he was right! Not only were my fingertips feeling raw, but the next day the muscles in my fingers were achy. But I suspect I would get over that quickly if I were to do this on a regular basis.

And speaking of that, while I was at Lowe's getting staples last night, I looked at miter saws and brad guns. Turns out, it would only cost about $250 to set up a frame shop in my basement. Something to think about. Might even be worth looking into making frames and matting to do my own framing as well.