Linen Canvas, Unprimed

These are 210 cm (82.7 in) wide rolls of 100% linen canvas unprimed

Artefex offers a wide range of cotton, polyester-cotton, jute and linen canvases in rolls to satisfy all different requirements from classical oil primed linen for oil painting, to very absorbent gesso priming suitable for all pictorial techniques, to acrylic dispersion (universal) priming for oil and acrylic colors. The canvases are primed in Tuscany, Italy by a family operation that has been preparing canvases for over 60 years.

Canvas

This is 100% linen canvas with a plain weave.

Specifications

For complete specifications of each canvas type, please see the particular canvas.

Comparison of Artefex unprimed, linen canvas:

Weave and Yarn

Canvas is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibers referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibers of flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands. Canvas is produced by the interlacing warp fibers (running the length of the fabric) and weft fibers (placed along the width of the fabric) in a regular pattern or weave style. The fabric's strength and mechanical integrity is maintained by the mechanical interlocking of the fibers and the physical properties, surface smoothness and stability of the fabric are determined primarily by the weave style.

Plain Weave

In this weave stye each weft fiber passes alternately under and over each warp fiber. The fabric is symmetrical, with good stability, good strength in both directions, and reasonable porosity. However, it is the most difficult of the weaves to drape, and the high level of fiber crimp imparts relatively low mechanical properties compared with the other weave styles.

Yarn Count and Measurement

The yarn count is a measure of the coarseness or fineness of fabric. It is measured by counting the number of yarns (or threads) contained in one linear centimeter or inch of textile for either the length (warp) or width (weft) yarns. Yarn thickness is measured in Number metric (Nm), which is the length of the yarn in meters for one gram of yarn weight. The thicker the yarn, the lower the metric number or Nm. So, a Nm 12 yarn is thicker than a number 40 weight. Using the metric system, all you really need to remember is the higher the number the finer the yarn or thread, the lower the number the thicker the yarn.

Thread Count or Threads Per Inch (TPI)

Thread count or threads per inch (TPI) is a measure of the coarseness or fineness of fabric. It is measured by counting the number of threads contained in one square inch of fabric, including both the length (warp) and width (weft) threads. The thread count is the number of threads counted along two sides (up and across) of the square inch, added together. A higher thread count produces a finer cloth, typiclly used for detail painting as in portraiture, but not necessarily as strong.

Canvas Weight

We provide both the weight, measured in grams per square meter and ounces per square yard, of the unprimed and primed canvas to help you select the right canvas for your artwork. It is generally recommended to use 320 g (~10 oz) unprimed linen canvas and 320 to 400 g (10 to 12 oz) cotton canvas for pictures larger than 120 cm (48 inches). Cotton and polyester canvas has strength closer to that of linen.

For more information about canvas and how to select canvas for visual arts, please refer to the article, Canvas Supports for Painting.