68x85 Elite Professional 1.5" Deep B2 Stretcher Frame Kit

True 5:4 Photography Proportion - 68x85 Size

This magnificent and uncommon 68x85 size makes a bold statement and it feels quite familiar being in the very common 5:4 aspect ratio.

The 5:4 aspect ratio is common to both art and portrait photography, as it creates a visually pleasing format for the human figure and face. The balanced compositional format can help to create a sense of symmetry and harmony in your artwork. The 5:4 ratio has a familiar "feel", as it was commonly used in early computer monitors. Additionally, you might consider trying some relatively unknown sizes in this same proportion that we call Lost Sizes As an artist, you get the best of both worlds, because you still get to use the same aesthetically appealing 5:4 format and use rare or novel sizes that help make your art stand-out.

Explore other sizes in this same 5:4 aspect ratio:

12x15 • 16x20 • 20x25 • 24x30 • 28x35 • 32x40 • 36x45 • 40x50 • 44x55 • 48x60 • 52x65 • 56x70 • 60x75 • 64x80 • 72x90 • 76x95 • 80x100 • 84x105 • 88x110 • 92x115 • 96x120

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.

No Finger Joints!

Solid Wood is far superior to finger jointed wood, which is many small pieces glued together, each with varying grain densities that absorb and shed moisture at varying rates, expanding and contracting non-uniformly as environmental conditions change, and causing the wood to bow and the finger joints to eventually fail.

A single homogeneous kiln-dried solid wood Stretcher Bar outperforms and outlasts a finger jointed Bar whose sole purpose is to save the manufacturer cost, not contribute to the archival value of artwork intended to last a millennium. 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 68x85 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

Biodiversity in our Forests is the Key to Life as we know it

By using lumber from sustainably managed forests in our products, we can ensure that the forests will continue to thrive and provide valuable resources for years to come. Sustainable forestry practices help to maintain the health and biodiversity of the forest, which benefits not only the environment, but also the local communities and businesses that rely on the forest for their livelihoods.

Specially Dried and Heat Treated Lumber

Our wood is handpicked from a curated group of environmentally responsible lumber mills in the Pacific Northwest. By adhering to our precise drying and heat-treatment standards, these mills produce lumber with nearly half the moisture you'd find in common home improvement outlets or lumber yards. This meticulous process not only enhances the wood's strength—minimizing risks of cracks, splits, or bends—but also elevates its dimensional stability. Such quality, despite its premium, is paramount in creating professional canvases designed to uphold the sanctity of your cherished art throughout the years.

74x91 is the Canvas Size Needed for this 68x85 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.

Masterpiece® is a family-owned business operating in California since 1965 and producing the finest Stretcher Bars in North America. We deliver the highest quality and highest performing products in the business. We are widely recognized as the nation's leader and trendsetter of professional quality fine-art canvas. We own several patents that make our products perform superior to any other on the market. Once you touch one of our products, you'll immediately recognize our impeccable quality—and more importantly, so will your clients and those who acquire your art

If I have become a painter, I owe it to Renoir. ♦ Pierre-Auguste Renoir

The whimsy of this statement reveals the lighthearted self-awareness of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It's a playful nod to his own talent, all while adding a dash of humility, and perhaps, self-reflection. Many might find the idea amusing — the great Renoir crediting himself for his artistry. But there's depth in his humor.

Artists often embark on introspective journeys, questioning the origins of their inspirations. Is it nature, experiences, or is it something deep within our very souls? We, too, as artists, frequently credit external influences for our evolution, when sometimes, it's our inner growth, our self-confrontations, and our personal revolutions that shape our craft the most.

This witty self-reflection by Renoir serves as a reminder. It nudges us to occasionally tip our hats to our own progress, our perseverance, and the internal muse that often fuels our artistic journey. So, while we gather inspiration from the world around, let's not forget the world within — our harshest critic and biggest cheerleader.

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Creativity is a dance between inspiration and innovation. Our own self portrait creation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir twirls alongside these profound words, hoping to set the stage for your next artistic performance. Now go do your dance on the canvas!