12x12 GRID Canvas 3/4" Deep #GRD-1212

Grid™ Canvas is a unique product that has a grid actually printed on the canvas itself. The grids are 1"x1" with additional 1/4" lighter weight lines, very similar to graph paper. The 100% cotton canvas is 3/4" deep canvas and is stretched using our MasterWrap™ back-stapled method with tailored corners. Our proprietary stretching products uses pneumatically controlled machines that yield drum-tight tension.

Transpose a Photo, Image, Tracing, or an actual scene onto Canvas

As demonstrated by this 1498 self portrait of Albrecht Dürer, himself, the grid process is a proven method for creating realistic art from a photograph, or from an actual scene through a "gridded" glass. Grid™ makes it easier to achieve actual life-like proportions that make your portraits captivating. Still-life perspectives come alive on canvas. Artists of all levels can achieve artistic accuracy and excellence using this method.

Transpose a Scene Directly onto Canvas

This famous 1506 drawing by German artist, Albrecht Dürer, demonstrates the grid transfer process. The drawing is called the "Draughtsman's Net," because he used a glass encased in a wooden frame and black threads to create his grid pattern on the glass. The artist looks through the glass and outlines the subject and that can be transferred to the gridded canvas.

The graphic shows Dürer's entire drawing and zooms-in on the left and right sides to provide a better glimpse of how the grid process. It is a very efficient method for drawing and tracing your main lines with a high degree of accuracy and takes away most of the guesswork when generating your proportions.

You can look-up on-line more about this process and find more drawings, as Dürer himself wrote a book called, "Treatise of Measurement" after having traveled to Italy and becoming totally immersed in Italian Renaissance art theory.

Transpose a Scene Indirectly onto Canvas

Using the gridded glass described above, trace-out your scene on the other side of the same gridded glass, and then use that as your "tracing" to transpose onto the canvas. The grid on the glass corresponds to the grid printed on the canvas.

Enlarge or Reduce your Painted Image

To enlarge your image, draw smaller than a 1" x 1" grid pattern directly onto your image, glass, or plastic sheet. Then correspond the grid on the image with the heavy bordered 1" x 1" squares on the canvas.

To reduce the size of your image, draw a grid larger than 1" x 1" squares on the glass. This works even if you are transposing your image directly or indirectly, as discussed above.

You can literally trace-out exactly what you see on the "gridded" glass. That grid will correspond to the grid on the canvas and you can thereby transpose a scene with unbelievable proportional accuracy.

Build Your Own Draughtman's Net

You could easily construct your own Draughtman's Net, as depicted above, any size you want. Simply buy a piece of glass from your local hardware store, which is quite economical. We make K2™ Stretcher Bars, which are ideal for this task because they have an 1/4" interior groove that will contain the glass, and they are 2.5" deep, so the device will stand on it's edge.

For example, if you buy a glass that is say 24x36 in size, then you could buy two 26 Inch and two 38 Inch K2™ Stretcher Bars that would make a 26x38 frame. Because the frame has an interior groove, the glass will be completely contained by the Stretcher Frame, and you would have effectively constructed a similar device as Albrecht Dürer. And with a dry or wet erase marker you can draw a grid pattern on the glass. You can use your Draughtman's Net as the view-finder, described above, to trace your subject on the glass, and then transfer that image to your corresponding a Grid™ canvas.

True 1:1 Square Proportion - 12x12 Size

12x12 is one of our most desirable square sizes.

The square is perhaps the most intriguing proportion, as it is root of all of the other proportions. It is commonly used in both photography and art. Squares are typically used as the center canvas of a triptych or as a single canvas hung at a 45° angle. The square proportion is long used with medium format professional cameras, and most photographs we see on websites and social media are based on square images. Since all sides of the canvas are the same length, your eye is drawn evenly across the surface of the painting creating a sense of harmony, balance, and a generally a pleasing visual experience. The square format is also a good choice for artists who focus on geometric shapes or patterns in their work, as the regularity of the square shape can help reinforce these elements. Some artists enjoy the challenge of working within the confines of a square format, as it forces them to think creatively resulting in intriguing compositions.

Explore other sizes in this same 1:1 aspect ratio:

4x4 • 6x6 • 8x8

Explore Related Products to this 12x12 Size:

• Other Styles: Classic Cotton™ • Vincent Pro™

Masterpiece Grid™ 3/4" Deep Bar • 1/8" Canvas Clearance

Canvas Clearance 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 maximum possible 1/8" clearance for a 3/4"deep profile Stretcher Bar so as not to impact your painting, but still leaving enough wood to the maximize strength of the frame.

• Stretcher Bar Profile produces a 3/4" deep stretched canvas
• 1-1/2" wide Stretcher Bar
• Solid Ponderosa Pine or Fir from the Pacific Northwest

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.

Sustainable Forests for Future Generations

Sustainable forestry practices go beyond just planting and harvesting trees. They also involve careful planning, monitoring, and management to ensure the long-term health and productivity of the forest. By using lumber from sustainably managed forests, we can support these important practices and help to ensure that our planet's forests remain healthy and productive for generations to come.

America's Custom Shop!

We offer two Masterpiece Classic depths (3/4" & 1-3/8"), as well as three canvas surfaces to choose from. There are dozens of standard sizes available for these products. If you don't find the size you want, our Masterpiece Vincent™ Pro canvases have 200+ sizes to choose from in over a dozen surfaces. And if you can't find what you want, just ask your local retailer or contact us, and we will help you with your next composition.

A canvas is one of the very few products you can buy, and with your precious time, talent, and materials transform it into a work of art that could one day be worth a fortune. Don't skimp on your material choices! Your legacy and your own brand will be judged by how well your artwork stands the test of time.

Art should evoke emotion, not explanation. ♦ Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a leading figure of the Impressionist movement, has left an indelible mark on the world of art with his vibrant, luminous colors and a unique touch that captured the essence of his subjects. His belief was that art should touch the heart before it ever engages the intellect, a belief clearly mirrored in his own creations.

Artists know well the tug of war between technique and emotion. While the skills we learn provide the foundation, it's the emotion we infuse into our work that truly brings it to life. In this chaotic dance between brush and canvas, or chisel and stone, we aren't merely creating; we're pouring out a piece of our souls. When a viewer is moved by a piece, when they feel something stirring within them, it's often not the technical prowess that captivates them but the emotion radiating from the work.

While knowledge and technique are vital, it's the power of raw emotion that truly touches us. Let's allow our works to speak to the heart, to evoke emotions, and to stand as testament to our unique perspectives, rather than simply being a subject for analysis and explanation.

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We believe in the power of words to inspire, and the magic of art to connect. Enjoy this meaningful quote with contextual background, and admire our unique rendition of Pierre-Auguste Renoir to complement your imagination. Get busy on your next composition!