Linen: Loose & Tight
 

I am puzzled about a recent portrait I just completed.

It was my first attempt at using the Claessen's #13 SP linen. Since I have completed the painting I have noticed that it will loosen for a period of time and then I will see it again a few days later and it will tighten itself again. It seems to be occuring in one partiicular area of the canvas. I have re-stretched the area twice and it is still happening.

I live in Alabama where we are now getting into those hot/humid days. Is humidity the problem? Has anyone else experienced this?

Humidity is the problem. That is the downside of linen. It takes on and gives off moisture. The expansion and contraction eventually leads to cracking.

On a day when the canvas is tight, try stapling a piece of foam core board, mat board or corrigated cardboard on the stretcher bars on the back of the canvas. That may help.

Bill

Dumb question: does the linen slacken when it is dry or when it is humid?

It tightens when it's wet...humid.

I had to think about that for a minute. Straighten me out Bill if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the response everyone.

Bill, I will try your suggestion. Sounds like that may possibly work. I'll let everone know the results, August is our worst month.

Michelle/Tim,

Seems to tighten with the increase in humidity. I notice that later in the evenings(night) it becomes loose.

If you you rub a damp cloth over the back of a test canvas (or linen) you'll be able to make it happen.

Just to elaborate on what Tim is recommending: Do it, as he says, on a TEST canvas, not one with a painting you care about.

Water, even a small amount, on the back of a canvas can cause great destruction!

Tim/Michelle,

I'll do just that. I'll stretch another linen canvas, hopefully some time this week.

So Far So Good
 

I stapled a piece of cardboard on the back of the canvas as Mr. Whitaker suggested and so far I haven't seen any changes with the linen loosening/tightening. We certainly have had variations in humidity over the last few weeks.

Thanks for the input!

More linen woes
 

I hope it isn't off-topic to post this question here. I bought some expensive unprimed linen that was folded into a rectangle and I'm having a hard time getting the folds out of it. Here's what I've tried: stretching the fold out on stretcher bars; spraying the linen with water and stretching it on stretcher bars; soaking the linen in water and ironing it before stretching. I'm not getting good results in any of these scenarios and I'm also wondering if pre-soaking linen and drying it encourages it to sag and behave badly after priming and painting.