55x67 Elite Professional 1.5" Deep B2 Stretcher Frame Kit

Elite™ Professional 1.5" Deep B2 Bar • 1/2" Canvas Clearance

A Canvas Clearance of 1/2" is the space between the Bar and the canvas. Generally speaking, more clearance reduces the risk of the canvas touching the wood and creating unsightly lines during painting. Our design provides the optimal clearance so as not to impact your painting, but still leaving enough wood to the maximize strength of the Stretcher Bar.

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.

• Super strong Elite™ B2™ Stretcher Bar is 50% stronger than most others in its class
• For this 55x67 large size frame, the frame provides the ultimate foundation for your art with increased strength and stability
• Produces a 1.5" deep stretched canvas
• 2-1/4" wide Stretcher Bars
• All Bars have an exclusive groove on the inside perimeter of the frame to which cross braces and Diamond Corner Braces attach
• Solid Ponderosa Pine or Fir from the Pacific Northwest

Sustainability Promotes Social Well-Being

The forests of the world are a precious resource that must be protected for future generations. By using lumber from sustainably managed forests in our products, we can help to ensure that these valuable resources are preserved and protected. This is not only important for the environment, but also for the social and economic well-being of the communities that rely on these forests for their livelihoods.

Specially Dried and Heat Treated Lumber

We source our wood from a select group of top-tier environmentally conscious lumber mills in the Pacific Northwest. These mills specially dry and heat-treat the lumber to our specifications, resulting in about half the moisture content compared to wood from typical home improvement centers or lumber yards. This process makes the wood stronger, reducing the likelihood of cracking, splitting, or warping. While the wood we use comes at a higher cost, it ensures a more dimensionally stable end product. This stability is crucial for crafting fine professional canvases that support your invaluable art over time.

61x73 is the Canvas Size Needed for this 55x67 Frame

Please note that you will need a canvas that is at least 6 Inches larger than the actual frame size to ensure proper stretching. This will provide ample material to stretch the canvas and attach it to the back of the frame. If you prefer to attach the canvas from the edge of the stretcher frame, you can reduce the size of your canvas by approximately 3/4" all the way around the frame. This will allow you to paint on the edge of the canvas and hang your artwork without needing a separate picture frame. And, if you ever need to remove the canvas from the frame and re-attach it, you'll have enough material to do that too.

With deep family ties and a legacy spanning since 1965 in California, Masterpiece® has been the epitome of unmatched quality in Stretcher Bars across North America. Our commitment to pioneering excellence has crowned us as the forerunners in the world of professional fine-art canvases. Bolstered by our patented innovations, our products exude a caliber that's in a league of its own. One touch, and the unparalleled quality becomes palpable, leaving an indelible impression on your clients and all future admirers of your art.

An artist is not paid for what he does, but for what he is. ♦ James Whistler

James Whistler, an American-born, British-based artist of the 19th century, was well-known not only for his art but also for his audacious personality and sharp wit. His works, like the famous Whistler's Mother, have become iconic, but it's perhaps his views on art and the artist's role that have left an indelible mark on art history. Whistler's statement delves deep into the essence of the artist's identity, touching upon the intangible value of artistry itself.

At a superficial level, it might seem that artists are compensated for the tangible outputs they produce: paintings, sculptures, performances. However, Whistler urges us to see beyond this. The true worth of an artist lies in their unique perspective, their lived experiences, and their emotional depth. Artists imbue their creations with a piece of their soul, sharing with the world their insights, vulnerabilities, and personal truths. The authenticity and rawness of these expressions are what we, as viewers and fellow artists, connect with. It's this profound connection, more than the physical artwork, that justifies the value placed on an artist's work.

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With a nod to James Whistler, we present these words of wisdom and our own custom crafted portrait. Let this fusion stoke your creative fires. Dive into your art!