Well, maybe not skills, as that would seem to imply something clever. But today I made 3 sets of stretchers and covered them all with canvas.

I surprised myself…..really because I can’t  be bothered to draw another scene with little white houses and I had finished my big painting of the calanche…with the cows, by deciding that today I would try to make stretchers. .

It was just to be a practice as I don’t  actually have any of the neccessary  equipment except  for a saw and a thing that helps you cut angles. I have never sawed anything before. It was quite a big saw. My measuring is erratic at best. However the thought of drawing more little houses was worse. So I measured 40cms on the strip of wood and then carefully placed the saw in the 45 angle.  And I sawed. It wasn’t  very easy as the plastic angle thingy kept sliding about on the floor and then the saw would stick for no discernible reason. But I kept going and soon I had a bit of wood with a bit cut off. It was at this point that I decided that I would make a square shape and use the first stretcher as a template for the others. What could go wrong!!!!

The 3d cut didn’t look right which was because I had put the saw in the wrong angle slots. I did manage to fix it. But was glad it was only a practice.

Soonish …I had 4 bits of wood with angles cut at the ends and to my great surprise  ( no kidding!) they all fitted together.  Well, that was easy I thought.

Next I got my passive aggressive stapler out and after putting  3 staples in each corner I had a lightweight stretcher. I should have glued them as well , but don’t  have glue. I was going to plane them too, but my plane is in the post. And the wood I have used is thinner than normal stretchers….and I am not sure I could cut thicker wood. ( need more muscles)

But I did it.

In fact I was so pleased with myself that after lunch I decided to make stretchers for my next exhibition painting which I had painted on an old bit of canvas ages ago, but suits the theme so I needed to mount it on something.

This time I had to do 50x60cms. It changed the shape of the painting as I hadn’t left enough edge to fold over. But I did it and was so pleased with myself that I made a small 30×30 one with the leftovers. 

Then I had to put the canvas on them . The first one, it being a practice one, I used an old bit of slghtly crumpled canvas. The second one I put my painting

on , which was on an old slightly crumpled canvas and the 3d one I used a nice new bit of canvas off a roll.

And strangely ….the 3d one looked best.

After repainting and improving the painting I was a little distressed to see how crumpled it still was. So got on youtube to see what I could do. First amid much bad language I took some staples out and pulled the canvas tighter. It looked worse. Plan b. I boiled some water and got a sponge and wet the back of the canvas and then dried it with a hairdryer. ( should have sprayed it with hot  water but didn’t  have a spray.)

It worked.I was so surprised. I don’t  know that it is permanent but I can always do it again before the exhibition .

I am very impressed with today’s  work….even though it could be better. I did it!!

Now it’s wine time after a satisfactory day’s work. Cheers.🍷🍷