This brief article discusses the basics of the two most common artist canvas materials, cotton and linen. Like most art supplies it can be a challenge selecting canvas if you do not know what you are looking for.  What are cotton and linen canvas made from? What do thickness and weight mean? Read on...

Cotton Duck Canvas is made from the threads of the cotton plant which are spun into larger fibers, offering moderate strength.These fibers are then woven into a heavy canvas which is rated on a numerical grade system of thickness from 1 to 10, 1 being the heaviest and 10 being the lightest. Cotton is readily available and relatively inexpensive, making this canvas type the most popular for artists to use.

Linen Canvas is made from long extremely strong fibers strands originating from the flax plant. Linen is an expensive fabric to manufacture. The quality of the finished linen depends largely on the quality of the plant itself. The best flax harvests come from Belgium and France where the temperature and climate produce a superior crop. The flax fibers are found in the stalk which is picked by hand to preserve the fibers integrity.

To create excellent quality linen the flax fibers are often blended from multiple seasons to produce stability in the fabric. Good quality linen is soft and largely free of the slubs or small knots, often associated with it. Slubs are only found in lesser quality fabric. Linen is mothresistant and repels dirt, as well.

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