Canvas
Canvas is a robust and versatile fabric traditionally made from heavy cotton, though it can also be woven from other natural fibers like hemp or linen. Its durability makes it suitable for various applications, ranging from clothing and accessories to industrial products such as tents, backpacks, and boat sails. There are two main types of canvas: plain and duck, which differ in the tightness of their weave, with duck canvas being woven more tightly. The fabric is often treated to enhance its waterproof capabilities, making it ideal for outdoor use. In the art world, canvas serves as a popular medium for painting, commonly stretched over wooden frames and sometimes primed with gesso to protect against decay from oil paints. The word "canvas" has etymological roots in languages such as Anglo-French and Dutch, with connections to the word "cannabis," reflecting its historical origins. Overall, canvas is celebrated for its strength, aesthetic potential, and adaptability across diverse fields, including fashion, art, and industry.
On this Page
Canvas
Canvas is a highly durable fabric. The texture of the fabric comprises a heavy cotton weave. Canvas may also be made of other natural fibers. The canvas fabric has multifarious purposes. It may be used for aesthetic purposes, such as clothing or accessories like handbags and shoes. Art on canvas is a popular medium. Canvas is also utilized when an extremely thick and solid type of fabric is required for items like backpacks or other camping equipment, tents, boat sails, or tarpaulins. Another name for canvas is "duck," derived from doek, a Dutch word meaning cloth.
Overview
The etymology of the word canvas is a derivative of Anglo or Old French, canevaz or canevas, respectively. Other derivations come from the word cannabis or hemp, from which canvas was originally made.
Canvas is generally made from cotton fabric and is woven as a plain weave. There may be an amalgamation of cotton and hemp or linen, though cotton has been more common since the twentieth century.
There are two types of canvas: plain and duck. The difference between them is the tightness of the weave, with duck canvas being woven more tightly, although it stretches fully. Canvas is measured by weight, such as ounces per square yard or grams per square meter. Additionally, a numbering system classifies the weight; however, the order of the numbers runs so that the higher number is lighter than a lower number (10 being lighter than 5, for instance).
Tents or marquees requiring an extremely sturdy fabric are usually made from canvas. The same applies to sails or other equipment where both hardiness and waterproof functionality are evident. The way canvas is tested for waterproofing involves a process of weathering before it is used. The fabric comprising the tent, marquee, awning, or boat sail is soaked in water. As it begins to dry, intricate checking occurs as to what has happened to the areas where the product has been sewn together. The intention is for the water to create a swelling of the fabric’s weave, followed by the fibers contracting when drying, so a tighter weave is created. This perfects the ability of the canvas to withstand heavy rain or washing by ocean waves. A further treatment of professional waterproofing products is applied to allow an adequate combination of fabric flexibility, ability to breathe, and staying watertight. Care needs to be taken as cotton canvas can shrink considerably. In the fashion industry, handbags and shoes are often designed in canvas. Cases for electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, often use canvas. Canvas can also be used in upholstery, especially for durable outdoor furniture. Canvas has industrial and commercial applications as well.
When canvas is used for artistic purposes, it is generally stretched across a wooden frame. Other methods include splined or stapled canvases. Canvas is popular in oil paintings. For art purposes, the canvas is often covered with gesso (a type of white paint primer), so there is a barrier between the oil paint and the canvas to prevent decay. Some artists choose not to prime the canvas, instead painting directly on it.
Bibliography
"Canvas Wall Tent Fabric 101: Types, Treatments, Strength, Shrinkage and More." Backcountry Chronicles, www.backcountrychronicles.com/canvas-wall-tent-fabric. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
D. L. “Crushing the Canvas Crunch.” Professional Boatbuilder, no. 209, June 2024, pp. 14–15. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=177100678&site=ehost-live. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
“5 Surprising Uses of Polyester Canvas Material You Never Knew.” JC Media, www.jcinkjet.com/5-surprising-uses-of-polyester-canvas-material-you-never-knew.html. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
"History." The Truth About Hemp, www.truthabouthemp.org/history. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
“What is Canvas Fabric: Properties, How its Made and Where.” Sewport, 15 Nov. 2024, sewport.com/fabrics-directory/canvas-fabric. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.