Make Your Own Canvas
Adult (Ages 16+) | Registration opens 10/28/2026 10:00 AM
Interested in stretching your own painting canvas? You might custom create your own canvas because you want a specific shape or size, want to control the quality and durability of materials, want a particular surface texture, want a collapsible painting, or you are just curious. This is your chance to learn in a group setting with all the materials and tools provided; 4x medium length pine stretcher bars to make a square canvas, fabric canvas, base gesso paint primer, canvas stretching pliers, fabric staple gun, and staple remover, sanding paper, hanging hardware, etc.
You’ll learn ways to prevent warping paintings, tips for tight but even stretching, how to fold the canvas to best protect the edges, and how to achieve your ideal smooth or textured surface. After a week to give your canvas settling time and your hands a break, during the second session, you will fully finish your personally stretched canvas and can even get a head start on your sketching and painting process.
Email Communication Policy
Please note that ACA will use the email address, which you provided at registration, as our primary means of communicating with you. In registering for an ACA program, you acknowledge that ACA has permission to email you with important updates, as well as information about upcoming events, programs and exhibition opportunities. Requests to be removed from our email mailing list must be sent to info@acarts.org.
Text/SMS Notification Service
To receive important text updates, including class reminders, weather cancellations, and more, please consider enrolling in our SMS/Text Notification Service. Please note that this service is only intended to provide important program reminders & updates for participants and will not be used for promotional purposes.
Upon registering, you will receive an automatic confirmation of your subscription from the number (781) 429-0398. Please save this number as “ACA” or “Arlington Center for the Arts” for future reference. Please note that this is a non-responsive line. To receive live assistance from an ACA staff member, please contact info@acarts.org or (781) 648-6220.