17 Inch Classic A1 Stretcher Bar 3/4" Deep #A1-17

Classic™ 3/4" Deep Bar • 1/16" Canvas Clearance

This Stretcher Bar is the standard in the industry for Stretched Canvases and works with standard picture frames. It provides 1/16" Canvas Clearance on both sides, you can stretch either side of the Bar.

• Produces a 3/4" deep stretched canvas (Actual depth is 11/16")
• 1-5/8" wide Stretcher Bar
• Precision machined corners
• Solid Ponderosa Pine or Fir from the Pacific Northwest
• The ends are mirror images of each other, so they naturally fit together; no other parts are needed
• Corner Keys may be purchased separately to expand the frame, only if needed to increase the tension after the canvas has been stretched

Solid Wood is Archival - Finger Jointed Wood is Not

We only use Solid Wood to build our Stretcher Bars because a solid piece of wood will last indefinitely. When we speak of archival value, it's not just the paint you use and the quality of your canvas and ground, even the wood choices manufacturers make are part of the archival process.

The principal reason manufactures use finger jointed wood is reduce cost, not increase archival value. Wood constantly grows and shrinks when the environment becomes hotter, or colder, or more humid, or more dry. Because finger jointed wood is made-up of multiple and varied pieces of wood, with varying grain patterns and densities, they each absorb and shed moisture at varying rates, which works on the glue joints that hold them together, causing the wood to bow and the joints to eventually fail, and certainly not consistent with increasing the archival value of your artwork frame support.

As a manufacturer, we do our part to conserve as much wood as possible, and still provide a quality made product that will out-perform any other in the marketplace.

Our Ecosystem Depends on Healthy Forests

Forests play a vital role in our planet's ecosystem. They absorb carbon dioxide, filter air and water, and provide habitat for countless species of plants and animals. By using sustainably sourced lumber, we can help to protect these important ecosystems and ensure that they continue to provide these valuable services for generations to come.

Canvas Size Needed for this Stretcher Bar

Most artists will stretch the canvas and attach the staples or tacks onto the back side of the frame. Doing so allows you to paint on the edge and hang your art without needed a picture frame. Generally speaking, you should allow 4 Inches of canvas beyond the size of your frame.

For example, if you were to stretch a 17x34 frame size, which happens to be a 2:1 Domino aspect ratio size, your canvas should be about 4 x 21. This allows you ample room to stretch and attach the canvas on the back. Should you ever need to remove the canvas from the frame and re-attach it, it still serves that purpose too. Should you want to attach the canvas from the edge of the stretcher frame, then you can reduce the size of your canvas about 3/4" all the way around the frame.

From the heart of California, Masterpiece® has been weaving a legacy since 1965, curating the best Stretcher Bars North America has witnessed. Our unwavering dedication to quality and innovation has cast us in the limelight as the trendsetting stalwarts in the realm of fine-art canvases. The patents we hold are not just certificates but validations of our pursuit of perfection. Engage with our creations and feel the promise of unmatched quality, a promise that resonates with your clients and every future beholder of your masterpiece.

What moves men of genius, or rather what inspires their work, is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough. ♦ Auguste Rodin

Auguste Rodin, the mastermind behind the renowned sculpture The Thinker, was no stranger to the world of art's demands and intricacies. With his hands molding clay and bronze into forms that seemed to breathe life, he stood at the pinnacle of sculpture during his time. The essence of his statement taps into a sentiment that many creative minds can identify with: the relentless pursuit of expression.

It isn't merely about crafting something novel or revolutionary; it's about communicating an idea, an emotion, a sentiment. And sometimes, it feels as though words or brushstrokes or chiseled stone can't quite capture the entirety of what one wishes to convey. This drive, this insatiable desire to articulate what lies deep within, pushes us to go beyond, to revisit, refine, and reimagine.

As we navigate our art careers, it's crucial to remember that revisiting themes, subjects, or techniques doesn't signify stagnation. Instead, it showcases a profound commitment to perfecting our craft and to ensuring our message is clear, resonant, and authentic. In echoing the sentiments of the past while adding our own touch, we ensure that our artistic voice is both a tribute and a testament to the ever-evolving realm of art.

---

We found this intriguing quote, wrote insightful context, as well as created this unique image of Auguste Rodin to enrich your experience and inspire. Inspire us with your next painting!

Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Retensioner

One of our most celebrated products helps make your canvas tighter! Assembling Stretcher Bars and Stretching your own canvas can present some challenges. While your canvas may seem tightly stretched, the tension may vary from staple to staple creating lines of tension across the canvas in a grid like pattern. The trick is to maintain balanced tension across the canvas.

Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Re-Tensioner is a great way to redistribute the tension in a canvas across that grid-like pattern of tension as well as increase the tension on the entire canvas. While you can can add tension by keying-out the corners of the frame, it may produce an hour-glass effect by expanding the frame in the corners, and not the center.

With Tight'n'Up™, you can add tension to just a small area, or a large area. Simply spray it lightly on the back and brush it into the canvas, and within seconds, your canvas becomes tighter and stays tighter. The more you use, the tighter it gets. Recommended for acrylic primed cotton or linen canvas. We do not recommend it for oil primed canvas because there are simply too many different types of oil primed canvas, but used conservatively at your own risk, it will tension any canvas.