Premium Painting Canvas & Easels — AC Moore Official Store
Our triple-primed stretched canvas delivers a smooth, archival-quality surface ready for acrylics, oils, or mixed media. Each canvas is hand-stretched over kiln-dried pine stretcher bars and stapled on the back for a clean gallery-wrapped profile. We apply three coats of acid-free gesso to ensure optimal paint adhesion and color vibrancy.
Every acmoore canvas begins with 100% cotton duck fabric woven to 10-ounce weight for durability and texture retention. We stretch the fabric over kiln-dried pine bars milled to prevent twisting or splitting over time. The triple-priming process applies three coats of titanium-white gesso, allowing each layer to cure fully before the next application.
Easel types & workspace fit
Tabletop easels suit artists working in limited square footage or those who paint while seated. The adjustable angle feature lets you switch from flat illustration work to angled canvas painting without changing furniture. We recommend tabletop models for canvases under 18 inches in any dimension.
Floor-standing H-frame easels handle larger projects and provide the stability needed for aggressive mark-making. The ratchet system on our studio model locks the canvas holder at precise increments, so you can return to the same working height session after session. Caster wheels turn the easel into a mobile workstation when you need to chase natural light across a room.
Canvas panel advantages
Canvas panels deliver the same primed cotton surface as stretched canvases but eliminate the flexibility of fabric-over-frame construction. The hardboard backing prevents any give under the brush, which many artists prefer for tight rendering or watercolor techniques on canvas. Panels stack neatly in drawers or portfolio cases without risking corner damage.
We mount each panel with archival adhesive that bonds the canvas permanently to the board, eliminating the risk of delamination. The rigid structure also makes panels easier to photograph or scan for reproduction, since there’s no fabric distortion under lighting. Panels accept standard picture frames without custom stretcher bar accommodation.
Canvas specs & easel details
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Canvas & Easel Questions
Our stretched canvas line includes 8×10, 11×14, 16×20, 18×24, and 24×36 inches. Canvas panels come in 8×10-inch format in a twelve-pack. If you need custom dimensions, our studio H-frame easel accommodates canvases up to 48 inches tall, so you can stretch your own fabric or order bespoke sizes from specialty suppliers.
Yes. The triple-primed gesso surface is compatible with oils, acrylics, watercolors, and mixed media. The acid-free primer prevents oil from penetrating the cotton fabric and causing rot. For traditional oil techniques, allow each paint layer to dry thoroughly before adding subsequent coats to avoid cracking.
Gallery-wrapped canvases have the fabric folded over the stretcher edges and stapled to the back, leaving the sides paintable and the front clean. Use D-rings or sawtooth hangers attached to the back stretcher bars, or rest the top edge on picture rail hooks. No frame is required, though you can add a floater frame for a more finished presentation.
Stretched canvases have fabric tensioned over wooden stretcher bars, giving the surface a slight spring under brush pressure. Canvas panels mount the same primed fabric onto rigid hardboard backing, eliminating flex entirely. Panels are more compact for storage and less prone to denting, while stretched canvases offer traditional painting feel and are easier to re-stretch if they loosen over time.
The tabletop easel accommodates canvases up to 16 inches in height. A 16×20-inch canvas oriented vertically will fit, but a horizontal orientation exceeds the holder capacity. For canvases larger than 16 inches in any dimension, we recommend our studio H-frame easel, which supports work up to 48 inches tall.
Our canvases arrive triple-primed with acid-free gesso and are ready to paint immediately. If you prefer a smoother surface or want to adjust the absorbency, you can apply an additional thin coat of gesso and sand it lightly once dry. Most artists paint directly on the factory primer without additional preparation.
Wipe fresh paint off wooden or metal easel surfaces with a damp cloth before it dries. For dried acrylic paint, use a plastic scraper or fine-grit sandpaper on wooden components. Avoid harsh solvents on finished wood, as they can strip protective coatings. Metal ratchet mechanisms should be kept free of paint buildup to ensure smooth height adjustments.