34" Vincent Pro Stretcher 2-Bars 1-CrossBrace Kit 7/8" Deep #VK-34

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5/16" Canvas Clearance provides an optimal distance from the Bar

It's vitally important to have enough space between the Stretcher Bar and the canvas so when you press on the canvas it does not touch the wood underneath, which can create unsightly lines on your 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.

Vincent Pro 7/8" Deep Stretcher Bar Kit

• Photo displays how the frame will look once you assemble two kits
• Precision machined medium duty keyable tongue-and-groove Stretcher Bars
• A 1/2" thick keyable cross brace is included with each kit
• Cross braces may be removed and reinserted at any time
• An exclusive slot is milled on the inside perimeter of all of the Stretcher Bars to which the Braces and the expansion wedges attach
• Patented keyable cross braces allow the frame to be tensioned in the middle of the canvas, where the tension needed the most
• Cross braces firmly attached with hardware at the intersection point for maximum support and rigidity

Canvas Tension is in Your Control

In dry climates or air conditioned environments, the lack of moisture in the air causes wood frames to shrink and the canvas fibers to narrow and elongate making the canvas more slack and resulting in a loss of canvas tension. In some instances, the canvas could have waves on the surface resulting in an unsightly viewing experience.

Our Vincent™ Pro professional frames provide the functionality for you to slightly expand the size of the frame in the corners and the middle of the canvas, thereby increasing canvas tension all across the surface. The difference between a loose canvas and a tight canvas is just 1/8" of an inch, so a small adjustment using our corner and brace keys makes an important difference in canvas tension.

• Helps to prevent waves that occur in a loose canvas
• Increase canvas tension by tapping-in the corner and brace keys
• True professional class canvases make it possible for you to adjust the canvas tension

Cross Braces Make it Tighter

A tightly stretched canvas on an un-braced frame overpowers the Stretcher Bars causing them to bow inward and thereby lose tension. Sometimes that bow can expose a space in picture frames.

When a canvas is stretched on a properly supported frame, the cross-braces prevent the Bars from bowing thereby achieving maximum canvas tension. To increase the canvas tension even more, simply tap the corner and brace keys further in their slots. Properly supported frames provide you with the control over the canvas tension of your canvas and painting.

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.

Canvas Size Needed for this Stretcher Bar

Most artists will stretch the canvas and attach the staples or tacks onto the back side of the frame. Doing so allows you to paint on the edge and hang your art without needed a picture frame. Generally speaking, you should allow 4 Inches of canvas beyond the size of your frame.

For example, if you were to stretch a 18x34 frame size, which happens to be a custom proportion, your canvas should be about 22 x 38. This allows you ample room to stretch and attach the canvas on the back. Should you ever need to remove the canvas from the frame and re-attach it, it still serves that purpose too. Should you want to attach the canvas from the edge of the stretcher frame, then you can reduce the size of your canvas about 3/4" all the way around the frame.

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.

Character is simply habit long continued. ♦ Plutarch

Plutarch's astute observations on humanity have echoed through the ages, and this specific insight into character stands as a testament to his deep understanding of human nature. Born in the ancient world, Plutarch's writings were more than historical accounts; they were analyses of human behavior, ethics, and the core elements that define us.

Artists, in particular, might find this statement to hold special weight. Through the progression of our art careers, habits play a pivotal role in shaping not only our artistic techniques and styles but also our work ethic, our approach to creativity, and, inevitably, our legacy. Each brush stroke, each sketch, and each moment of contemplation contributes to the habits that, over time, culminate in an artist's unique character. Every decision we make, every medium we choose, and every theme we revisit strengthens these habits, cementing our artistic identity.

It's a humbling reflection for all of us in the realm of art. By understanding and curating our habits, we have the profound ability to mold and refine the character that shines through in our work. It beckons us to choose our habits wisely, recognizing that they will eventually crystallize into the essence of our artistic identity. This understanding serves as both a caution and an inspiration: to be deliberate in our actions and to embrace the journey of habit-forming with intention and purpose.

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Embrace the synergy of this profound quote with our interpretation of it's meaning with a nice little portrait that we created of Plutarch. Time to create!