26 Inch Classic A1 Single Stretcher Bar 3/4" Deep #A1-26

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

Finger Jointed Wood is not meant for Stretcher Bars

Solid wood makes the most dependable Stretcher Bar, because one homogeneous wood member is going to behave similarly across the entire length of the Bar. Whereas, with finger-jointed wood is made-up of multiple pieces of wood, sometimes on the actual joint itself, presenting multiple points of failure which no one can control.

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 add or reduce value to your final painting. The fact is, you don't want problems, and finger joints only increase that risk of the wood falling apart in the future.

The glue used to bind finger joints is a water based adhesive and when that wood is exposed to high humidity environments, particularly with exterior walls, the glue joints can give-up. As a manufacturer, Masterpiece® does its part to conserve as much wood as possible, and still provide a quality product that will out-perform any other in the marketplace.

Selective Harvesting in our Sustainable Forests

Intelligent selective harvesting of timber is an ecological method to replace the natural occurrences of forest fires and disease and landslides that can devastate forests. This is all part of the process of sustainable forest management to which we subscribe when we choose which lumber we use in our products.

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 26x27 frame size, which happens to be a custom proportion, your canvas should be about 30 x 31. 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.

Rooted in California and flourishing since 1965, Masterpiece® takes pride in its family-led legacy of crafting North America's premier Stretcher Bars. Our quest for excellence isn't just a goal but a commitment, positioning us as the trailblazers in the domain of fine-art canvas. Our innovative patents have set new benchmarks, ensuring our offerings stand unmatched. Dive into the tactile experience of our products, and you'll instantly recognize the distinct Masterpiece® quality, a signature appreciated by both your clientele and future art connoisseurs.

Art is never finished, only abandoned. ♦ Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci, an icon of the Renaissance, remains a touchstone for the confluence of art and science. His notebooks, filled with sketches, ideas, and innovations, paint a vivid portrait of a mind that was perpetually inquisitive and restless. From the intricate layers of the Mona Lisa to the detailed studies of human anatomy, Leonardo's works demonstrate a relentless pursuit of perfection and an insatiable curiosity. Yet, his assertion that art is never truly finished reveals an intimate understanding of the artistic process and the ever-evolving nature of creativity.

We often find ourselves revisiting our pieces, seeing new avenues for expression or minute details that beg adjustment. It is a testament to our commitment and the evolving nature of our perspectives. With each day, experience, and emotion, our understanding and interpretation of our subjects shift. In embracing Leonardo's words, we are reminded that our art is a living, breathing entity, evolving with us. The challenge then is not in achieving perfection but in recognizing when to let go, trusting that our work has captured a moment in our ever-changing journey.

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We hope you will be inspired by the wisdom, and our interpretation thereof, of Leonardo da Vinci, plus we made this unique little portrait to begin the creative process. Time to start your creative process!