For an artist, the canvas isn't just a surface; it’s a partner in the creative process. At HM Canvases Ltd, we know that the choice between cotton and linen can fundamentally change how your paint behaves and how your work ages.

The terms "strainer" and "stretcher bar" are often used interchangeably, but for a professional artist, the difference is critical. Both are wooden frames used to hold a canvas taut, but their structural design dictates the longevity and archival safety of the artwork.

Every artist knows the feeling: the moment of excitement as you unwrap a new canvas, only for that excitement to curdle into frustration. Maybe the frame is warped before you even touch it, or the gesso is so thin it devours your expensive paint. For years, we lived this reality, pouring our time and passion onto canvases that simply weren't built to last.

When you look closely at a premium, professional-grade stretcher bar—like the Tulipwood frames we craft here at HM Canvases—you'll notice a subtle but essential detail: the inner edge of the wood, where it meets the canvas, is not a sharp, 90-degree corner. Instead, it features a bevel or a gentle, rounded profile.