4x4 Vincent Pro Malibu Canvas 7/8 Inch Deep #VY-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 • 24x24 • 30x30 • 32x32 • 36x36 • 40x40 • 22x22 • 34x34

Explore Related Products to this 4x4 Size:

• Alkyd Oil Primed Linen: Ventura™
• Oil Primed Linen: Vintage L21C™ • Versailles™ • Poitiers™
• Acrylic Primed Linen: Muir™ • Vintage L22U™ • Santa Cruz™ • Saint-Cloud™ • Pau™
• Acrylic Primed Cotton: Monterey™ • Carmel™ • Tahoe™ • Heavy Weight 14oz cotton • Sierra™
• Hardcore Canvas Panel: Malibu™
• 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.

Malibu™ Alkyd Oil Primed Belgian Linen

• 100% Belgian Linen 5 oz; Primed Weight 12 oz per square yard
• Medium Weight, Open Weave, Textured Surface
• 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

Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) Primer Pigment

Our primer is made with the highest-quality Titanium Dioxide white pigment, which is an excellent pigment for acrylic primed grounds, providing superior whiteness and maintaining excellent flexibility over time. Unlike some other common pigments, such as zinc dioxide, TiO₂ doesn't become brittle as it ages, helping to ensure that your painting will stand the test of 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.

4x4 Vincent Pro Strainer Frame

• Drawing depicts the exact frame construction, not the proportion
• Strainer Bars are used when the short side is under 8" inches
• Fixed Corner Frame - Not keyable or expandable
• No cross braces required when the frame length is under 16"
• Frame is very sturdy and provides a solid support for this 4x4 size frame

Vincent™ Pro 7/8" Deep Bar • 5/16" Canvas Clearance

5/16" 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 the optimal clearance so as not to impact your painting, but still leaving enough wood to the maximize strength of the Stretcher Bar.

• Produces a 7/8" deep stretched canvas
• 1.5" 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 Ensure More Wood for Communities

Using lumber from sustainably managed forests is not only the responsible thing to do, it's also a way to ensure that the wood products we rely on continue to be available in the future. By supporting sustainable forestry practices, we can help to ensure a steady supply of wood products while also protecting the environment and supporting local communities.

MuseumWrap™ Stretching Technique

With more than a half a century of American engineering, Masterpiece® designs and builds its own proprietary stretching equipment that enables us to produce the finest and most tightly-stretched canvas on the market.

• Drum-tight stretch!
• Up to 50% tighter than other methods
• Balanced tension across the surface
• Uncut folded corners make it possible to remove and re-stretch canvas on the same size frame
• Usually the corner folds are on the long sides

With over five decades of commitment, Masterpiece® stands as a testament to unrivaled canvas craftsmanship in North America. Choosing the right canvas is an investment not just in materials, but in the future value and longevity of your artwork. Make choices today that stand the test of time and reflect your dedication as an artist.

Color provokes a psychic vibration. Color hides a power still unknown but real, which acts on every part of the human body. ♦ Wassily Kandinsky

The visionary Russian painter and theorist, Wassily Kandinsky existed at a unique intersection of art and spirituality. He believed that art wasn't merely an imitation of the external world but was capable of invoking profound internal reactions. With his avant-garde leanings and pioneering approach towards abstraction, Kandinsky deeply understood the symbiotic relationship between color and emotion.

The intimate bond with color is undeniable. We've all felt the stirrings of an emotion when faced with a particular shade or hue, be it the serene blues that invoke calmness or fiery reds that ignite passion. The canvas, in this respect, becomes a platform where color becomes a medium of communication, often speaking louder than form or composition. This profound impact of color is not just limited to its aesthetic appeal; it has the power to evoke memories, shape perceptions, and even influence decisions. We wield these colors, aiming to transcend the visual and touch the very soul of those who engage with our work.

Kandinsky's insight serves as a potent reminder of the depth and dimension color brings to our art. It's not merely a tool or a component; it's a living entity with its own voice and spirit. Through the expert application and understanding of color, we can venture beyond the tangible and explore realms still unknown, creating experiences that are both visceral and ethereal.

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As we honor the legacy of Wassily Kandinsky, we've created our own portrait as well as pass along these words of wisdom and our take on the message. Get to work on yours!

Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Retensioner

While all of our Masterpiece® Pro canvases are stretched very tightly and our frames have a built-in method to increase tension, we have another method to add canvas tension. Tight'n'Up™ Liquid Canvas Retensioner (sold separately) can be sprayed on the back of a canvas to repair most canvas tension issues.

With Tight'n'Up™, you can add tension to just a small area, or a large area. Simply spray it lightly on the back and brush it into the canvas, and within seconds, your canvas becomes tighter and stays tighter. The more you use, the tighter it gets.