Artist Canvas and Linens

Chapman & Bailey stock a wide range of carefully selected linens, cottons and polyesters, which allow you as an artist, to explore different effects and finishes.

Click here for our range of qualities.

Belle Arti Linens

Belle Arti primed linen and cottons from Italy are the finest of quality and affordably priced on the market. They supply a choice of weights and textured weaves from fine to coarse, and a choice of hand or machine primed finishes using universal or oil primer. Universal primer allows for a variety of painting mediums to be used on a surface that has properties of medium absorbency. Oil primed canvases produce a rich oily surface with excellent adhesion qualities.

Belle Arti are also unique in producing primed linens in 2 widths, 216 and 310 cms. These dimensions cater for artists wishing to explore larger work. Primed linens are also stretchable yet stable, two vital components in producing a reliable surface on which to produce quality artwork.

Libeco Artist Linens

Since the 1850s, Libeco from Belgium have weaved the finest loomstate, or unprimed, linen canvas for artists. As Masters of Linen, Libeco weave the fabric using the longest natural threads, under strict supervision and in the finest time-honoured tradition.

The properties of linen, derived from the humble flax plant, have been known for hundreds of years. Artists can take pride in the fact that the production of linen is an ecologically sustainable process. With a short growth cycle and low in water usage, the entire flax plant, from seeds to fibre pulp, is put to use in one form or another.

Artfix

Chapman & Bailey are proud to stock the Artfix range of primed linens and polyester rolls from Provence. Artfix are specialists in producing fine surfaces, often with up to four coats of primer for the linens, and up to six for the polyesters, all applied by hand. Polyester is a more modern fabric now widely used to provide a super-fine tooth for more detailed work. In fact, due to it's lack of hygroscopic, or water absorbent qualities, polyester is ideally suited to the more tropical climate of northern Australia. The climate of southern France however is ideal for stable drying of primed surfaces. This allows for the surface to breathe evenly in order to reduce paint film stress.

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