Many canvas options are available at art supply stores, and deciding which canvas is best for your project can be challenging. Canvas is a fabric composed of cotton threads or linen woven together to give a rough or smooth texture, and the canvas is wrapped around a wooden frame. Canvas is a popular painting surface for artists, is readily available, and comes in various styles and sizes. Larger canvases generally have horizontal bars running through the back of the canvas for stability. An art shop provides high-quality canvases that are easy to work with and durable. 

A good canvas is tightly wrapped, constructed with high-quality materials, and has a strong structure. A canvas allows the paint to sit on the surface of the cloth rather than soaking into it. Canvas can be primed or unprimed. 

Another factor to consider while selecting a suitable canvas is canvas depth. A thicker canvas adds an overall polished look to the final product.

Types of Canvas

Canvas Boards

Canvas boards are lightweight wood boards with a thin layer of canvas covering the front and edges. Canvas boards are inexpensive and don\'t require framing. 

Unstretched/Loose Canvas

A loose canvas is a canvas with no wooden frame, making transport convenient since you can roll it into a tube.

Gallery-Wrapped Canvas

The most frequently used canvas is gallery-wrapped canvas with a thick edge wrapped around the frame.  

Linen Canvas

Linen canvas is a smoother, higher-quality fabric with a very smooth finish, and the material stitch is closer than the standard cotton canvas. Linen material is more expensive but is ideal for oil painting and portraits.    

An affordable canvas board is an excellent option for experimenting. Investing in a high-quality canvas is better if you are creating a painting. Custom canvas sizes are an option to find the perfect size for your artwork. An art supply store can assist you in determining the suitable canvas for your painting.