81x116 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.

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.

• Super strong Elite™ B2™ Stretcher Bar is 50% stronger than most others in its class
• For this 81x116 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

Tree Replanting - Essential to Sustainably Managed Forests

Harvesting timber provides humans with an essential natural resource, but replanting trees at a rate higher than a harvest is a key component in humanity's effort to guarantee a healthy forest for the future. Increasing our number of trees is just as essential to our economy, as the harvest itself, which is why we select only timber harvested from responsibly managed forests.

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.

87x122 is the Canvas Size Needed for this 81x116 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.

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.

For years I've wanted to live according to everyone else's morals. I've forced myself to live like everyone else, to look like everyone else. I said what was necessary to join together, even when I felt separate. ♦ Mary Cassatt

The life and works of Mary Cassatt often stood at the crossroads of traditional expectations and personal aspirations. Her words here reflect a struggle that many, especially artists, can deeply relate to: the tension between societal conformity and individual authenticity. Living in an era where the roles of women were rigidly defined, Her decision to pursue art as a career and remain unmarried was viewed as audacious. Her relentless drive to express herself authentically, even amidst societal pressures, set her apart and paved the way for her iconic contributions to the world of Impressionism.

Artists today, like Cassatt, often find themselves torn between producing what's expected and unveiling what's truly within their hearts. Being part of the art world means we frequently balance the scales of public opinion with our own creative impulses. Her admission of attempting to fit in serves as a poignant reminder of the compromises we sometimes make. However, it's essential to remember that while society evolves, the authentic voice of an artist remains timeless. The challenge for us is to trust in our unique perspectives, just as she did, and recognize that true artistry often thrives in the spaces where we embrace our differences rather than mask them.

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With an artist's spirit and a modern touch, we bring you this hand-selected quote and provide context to its meaning. To tie it all together, we include our own one-of-a-kind portrayal of Mary Cassatt. Now let your colors flow!