How to Wire a Canvas

Do you have some art that just hasn’t made it to the wall? or are you an artist and have been sending your pieces out to be stretched and wired? Stretching and wiring a canvas are both easy things that can be done from your studio space. This week I will cover wiring. Next week I will cover stretching a canvas.

Here is what you will need to wire your piece.

• Two D-rings
•  4 screws (No more than 5/8″ in length)
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Wire – Gauge will depend on canvas weight. Read package for information when purchasing. (I always buy the 43LB plastic coated wire.)
• Wire cutters
• Screw driver or drill
• Pencil

First you must decide the orientation of the painting. Will you hang it vertically or horizontally? Once you’ve decided what direction the piece will hang measure that length. So for this example, I wired a vertical piece that is 20”x40.”

First divide the vertical side by 4. 40/4 = 10. Take your tape measure and mark with your pencil 10 inches (or ¼ of your vertical piece) mark it on both sides.

Take your D-rings and angle them slightly into the canvas, one to the left, the other to the right. Take two of the screw and screw them in one of each of the D-ring’s two holes. Adjust the angle as necessary and screw in the last two screws.

Take your wire and measure double the width of your piece. My width was 20” so my wire should be 40”. Snip the double width wire and string it through both rings and center the wire so there should be 10” of wire on either side of the piece through the wires. Pull the wire slightly so there is a little slack, but not so much that the wire extends over top of the frame. Pinch the wire and tie it in a knot in each D-ring once after you’ve chosen your desired slack.

Once knotted twist the excess wire back up the tightened side to ensure no slipping and so that the owner can add wire slack if desired. And that is it, wiring a piece is pretty easy.

And Whala! Your piece is ready to hang. Just make sure you’re using strong enough wire and D-rings by checking their tested weight. It should be on their packaging! Good luck!