4x4 Hardcore Pro Ventura Plein Air Canvas Panel #HV-0404

True 1:1 Square Proportion - 4x4 Size

4x4 is a popular small size square size.

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:

5x5 • 6x6 • 7x7 • 8x8 • 9x9 • 10x10 • 12x12 • 14x14 • 16x16 • 18x18 • 20x20

Explore Related Products to this 4x4 Size:

• Alkyd / Oil Primed Linen: Malibu™ • Versailles™ • Poitiers™
• Acrylic Primed Linen: Muir™ • Santa Cruz™ • Saint-Cloud™ • Pau™
• Acrylic Primed Cotton: Monterey™ • Carmel™ • Heavy Weight 14oz cotton
• Vincent™ Pro 7/8 • Monet™ Pro 1.5

Vegan Ground:

There are no animal products that make-up the sizing and the primer for this fine canvas. Historically, traditional canvas grounds have included egg tempura, pigments with cow urine, and of course, rabbit skin glue. In today's rapidly advancing world, there are many more choices available for artists who prefer non-animal based products that perform far better than their animal-based predecessors.

Ventura™ Alkyd Oil Primed Belgian Linen

This strong and fine weave linen has more of an even tooth and absorbent quality to the ground. It has a light gray tone.

• 100% Belgian Linen 7 oz.; Primed Weight 11.3 oz. per square yard
• Medium Heavy Weight, Fine Weave, Fine Texture
• Double Sized and Double Primed with acid-free archival quality alkyd ground
• Impenetrable ground prevents oil paint from leaching through and harming the canvas
• For oils, alkyds, and water miscible oil paints
• Linen has natural oils that prevent disintegration over time.

Oil paint on an oil primed canvas improves your results

Using an oil prepared canvas for oil painting can produce superior results because the paint and ground are organically similar and create an ideal "chemical bond" where the paint sinks into the ground resulting in a smoother and more even finish. The resulting bond between the paint and canvas is stronger, making the artwork more durable and long-lasting. Additionally, the melding of the two oil-based materials creates an effect called luminosity, where the colors appear to glow from within, and thereby enhances the vibrancy and brightness of the colors, impacting the way light reflects off the colors.

Flash an Oil Prepared Canvas with Mineral Spirits

While it is not required, for best results, lightly wipe or flash the oil prepared canvas with mineral spirits before painting to make sure that your surface is completely clean of any dust or contaminants before painting.

Our Hardcore™ Pro Pro Canvas Panels are the flattest on the market. They are made using MDF (medium density fiberboard) which is the highest quality engineered wood board on the market. Moisture in the board can cause undesirable results to the panel and your artwork, which is why we size the board with four layers on the front before the canvas is mounted, thereby defending against moisture getting into the board and underneath your artwork.

Canvas Panels should be as flat as possible, otherwise, they don't display well in a frame, and can create spaces between the artwork and the frame. A bowed panel is also a sign of having been impacted by the effect of moisture. Canvas can shrink, even after it is mounted on the board. For this reason, Masterpiece® developed a unique proprietary process that stress-relieves each panel, thereby virtually eliminating the bow that is commonly found in competing panel products. Hardcore™ Pro Canvas Panels provide a stable foundation for your art.

Panel Porter™ wet carriers are the most secure and versatile on the market!

• Mix and match to make any size carrier you want!
• For this 4x4 sized Panel, you could buy two pair 4" Panel Porters™
• You can then combine these sizes with other size Panel Porters™ to create an entire new wet panel carrier.
• Each carrier securely transports two wet panels
• Metal locking pins secure frame together to protect your precious artwork
• Carry Panel Porters™ in your bag or backpack to match the panel sizes you paint
• Assemble frame carriers after you have completed your paintings
• Air holes in the corners allow your painting to breathe while drying
• Panel Porters™ are great for shipping your artwork
• Masterpiece® makes over 75 standard sizes of canvas panels, so with Panel Porter™, you are liberated to paint sizes you've never tried before and still have an economical and secure carrier to match

Simply touch one of these impressive canvases and the quality of our materials, workmanship, and design will be immediately obvious to you, and to those who will ultimately acquire your art. The canvas you select becomes the foundation of your painting. Your reputation depends upon the quality of your artwork and the integrity of your material choices. Savvy art buyers and art enthusiasts place a higher value on artwork made with quality materials because they expect their investment in your art will last hundreds, if not a thousand years. Using quality paints and a well-made canvas is an investment in your legacy and your brand.

Everything that is not art is ugly. ♦ Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin, a post-Impressionist artist known for his richly colored works and contributions to Symbolism, often ventured beyond the familiar in search of the unadulterated and the primitive. His escape from Paris to Tahiti wasn't just a physical journey but a quest for aesthetic purity. When he declares that everything outside the realm of art is ugly, it can be seen as a reflection of his own quest to escape the mundane, the routine, and the industrialized civilization. To Gauguin, the pursuit of art was the pursuit of beauty in its most genuine form.

This idea taps into the notion that our lives are driven by a search for meaning, depth, and beauty. As we labor over our canvases, each brushstroke becomes a testament to this pursuit. Gauguin challenges us, artists, to elevate our perspective, to discern art in all that we see, and to cherish the beautiful intricacies hidden within everyday life. It's not just a statement about art, but a profound reflection on life's priorities, reminding us to continuously seek and appreciate the aesthetic in every moment.

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We've curated this inspirational quote and our take on the message, plus a unique portrait we created of Paul Gauguin, celebrating the timeless ever-evolving act of creation. Go create your own masterpiece!