Find the Right Fredrix Canvas

by Elizabeth Ragona. © 2025 Alabama Art Supply.

We just received two full 18-wheelers packed with Fredrix canvases — and we’re celebrating with a Massive Canvas Sale! Whether you're a seasoned artist or just getting started, it’s the perfect time to stock up on the surfaces you love.

Fredrix has been crafting fine art canvases for more than 150 years, trusted by artists for their quality, durability, and variety. With so many new arrivals, we’re excited to help you find the perfect canvas for your next masterpiece.

P.S.: Our website shows just a small sample of the Fredrix canvases we have!
Come visit the store to see the full selection — and remember, Ken’s Club Members get 50% off Stretched Canvas and 40% off All Fredrix Products Every Day!

Quick Canvas Recommendation Chart

Explore Our Huge Selection of Fredrix Canvases

Our expanded selection has something for every artist. Whether you prefer stretched canvas, rigid boards, flexible pads, or unique shapes, Fredrix offers top-quality surfaces that set your creativity free.

In addition to stretched canvases, boards, and pads, we also have Fredrix canvas rolls — perfect for artists who want total control over size and preparation.

Stretched Canvases

When most people think of traditional painting surfaces, they imagine stretched canvas — and Fredrix makes some of the best. Our new inventory covers a full range of surfaces, from affordable cotton to archival linen, and includes several different depths for every type of display.

Green Label Pro Belgian Linen: FREDRIX PRO Belgian Linen canvases are perfect for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. Acrylic-primed Linen uses only the highest quality certified Belgian linen, which is 10oz primed / 5.5oz raw. FREDRIX PRO Series Belgian Linen Pre-Stretched Canvas is the best choice for resell value and also among the most archival.

 

Orange Label Pro Series: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. Gallery wrap and PRO Dixie 2.25" deep canvases with a durable cotton surface, which is a 17.5 oz primed / 12 oz raw 100% Cotton duck canvas. PRO SERIES features heavier bars with extra bracing for added support.

 

Red Label Artist Series: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. Available in both gallery wrap and standard profiles, the canvas features superior quality, medium texture, 100% Cotton duck canvas, which is a 12 oz primed / 7 oz raw 100% Cotton duck canvas.

Blue Label Ultra Smooth: Extra-smooth surface ideal for detailed work like portraits and realism. FREDRIX BLUE LABEL pre-stretched Ultrasmooth canvas is made of superior quality medium weight blended PolyFlax / Cotton duck with fine texture. 

 

Watercolor Stretched Canvas: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, Inks, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. Specially formulated for watercolor painting with traditional canvas flexibility. FREDRIX WATERCOLOR Canvas is a 100% Cotton artist canvas that combines the texture of a natural, woven fabric with a specially formulated gesso designed for all water-based paints. It will not tear like paper, and you can lightly lift out pigment or completely wash out your painting surface without damaging the canvas surface.

📌 Watercolor Canvas Tips: Ten minutes before you paint, wipe down (firmly) the entire surface of the canvas with a very wet cloth. This will allow for more spontaneous transfer of the paint to the canvas.

Fredrix Canvas Depth Options:

Standard: 7/8" deep — great for traditional framing.

Gallery Wrap: 1 3/8" deep — display without framing by painting the sides.

PRO Series: 2.25" deep — bold, modern presentation perfect for larger artworks.

Canvas Boards, Panels and Pads

If you prefer a firm surface or need something portable, canvas boards and panels are a smart choice. These rigid options are perfect for plein air painting, heavy media, or artwork that travels — and we have more styles in stock than ever before.

Canvas Boards and Panels

Artist Mixed Media Canvas Boards: A versatile option for watercolors, watercolor sticks, acrylics, inks, paint markers, permanent markers and spray paints. 100% Cotton artist canvas combines the texture of a natural, woven fabric with a specially formulated gesso designed for all water-based paints. It will not tear like paper and you can lightly lift out pigment or completely wash out your painting surface without damaging the canvas surface.

Orange Label PRO Series Canvas Boards: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, enamels, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. This is a professional grade, archival painting surface with medium texture canvas mounted on an acid free MDF board.

Green Label PRO Linen Archival Canvas Boards: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, enamels, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. This is a professional grade, archival painting surface with medium texture linen mounted on an acid free MDF board.

Artist Series Panels: A versatile option for oils, acrylics, water soluble oils, paint markers, permanent markers, spray paints and alkyds. Fredrix Artist Series Panels are great for students and hobby artists. The surface texture provides a very definite paint-gripping “tooth” with minimum paint absorption, a perfect support for painting with most media.

Canvas Pads

Canvas pads offer flexibility and affordability — ideal for practicing techniques, sketching out ideas, or creating a series of studies. Our Fredrix canvas pads are primed and ready to paint, so you can jump into your creativity without delay.

Canvas Pads: Pre-primed and ready to go, a smart choice for students and daily sketches.

Black Canvas Pads: Dramatic black background to make colors pop and create bold effects.

Boards vs. Pads: Which One Fits Your Creative Flow?

Sometimes a stretched canvas isn’t the right fit for your project — and that’s where canvas boards and pads come in. Each offers its own advantages depending on how you like to work.

CANVAS BOARDS

• Firm, solid surface — perfect for artists who love a rigid, stable feel under the brush.
• Highly portable — great for plein air painting, travel, or outdoor festivals.
• Space-saving and durable — easy to store, frame, and ship finished pieces.
• Best for: professional studies, plein air work, commissions on the go, or paintings where you want extra support under heavy paint.

CANVAS PADS

• Flexible and economical — ideal for studies, experiments, classes, and warmups without worrying about wasting supplies.
• Primed and ready — jump into new ideas without the cost of full canvases.
• Tear out pages — paint on a pad, then tear out the best pieces to frame or display.
• Best for: students, hobbyists, daily practice, sketching out new series or concepts.

📌 PRO TIP

Use canvas boards when you need strength, portability, and a professional finish. Use canvas pads when you want affordability, flexibility, and freedom to create without limits.

Specialty Shapes

Sometimes a painting calls for a shape that's anything but square. Fredrix specialty canvases, including rounds, ovals, and Convexo curved surfaces, let you break free from the rectangle and experiment with exciting new formats.

Artist Series Convexo Canvas: A curved, convex surface that makes your work literally stand out.

Artist Series Rounds and Ovals: Perfect for portraits, abstracts, or making a strong design statement.

Canvas Rolls: Total Creative Control for Artists Who Like to DIY

If you're the kind of artist who likes to stretch your own canvas, work large-scale, or customize every detail of your surface, Fredrix canvas rolls are your best friend. Available in cotton, linen, and polyflax blends — both primed and unprimed — these rolls give you the freedom to create exactly what you need.

Why Choose Canvas Rolls?

Custom Sizes: Stretch canvases to any dimensions you desire, perfect for oversized works or unconventional formats.

Cost-Effective: Economical for artists who produce in volume or need multiple canvases of varying sizes.

Surface Control: Choose your own priming method and number of coats, tailoring the surface to your specific medium and technique.

Portability: Ideal for artists on the go; unprimed rolls can be easily transported and stretched later.

Fredrix Canvas Roll Options

Cotton Duck Rolls: Strong, tightly woven fabric available in various weights. Great for both oil and acrylic painting. Offered in primed and unprimed versions. 

Orange Label Pro Dixie Cotton Canvas Rolls are 100% Cotton, 12oz raw, 17.5oz primed, and available in 55″, 60″, 72″, 84″, 96″, 120″, 144″ Widths.

Red Label Artist Series Canvas Rolls are 100% Cotton, come in various material thicknesses, and come in widths ranging from 53" to 72".

Linen Rolls: Premium surface with a natural texture, preferred for its durability and archival quality. Available in unprimed and oil-primed options. Green Label Linen Rolls are available in 63" and 72" Widths.

Polyflax Rolls: A synthetic blend offering a smooth, uniform surface. Lightweight and resistant to environmental changes. The Polyflax Rolls are aPoly/Cotton blend, 7oz raw, 10oz primed, and available in 58″ width.

Watercolor Canvas Rolls: Specially formulated for watercolor painting, combining the texture of canvas with the absorbency needed for water-based media.

📌 PRO TIP

Canvas rolls are ideal for artists seeking flexibility, customization, and cost savings. Whether you're creating large-scale installations, experimenting with new formats, or simply prefer to prepare your own surfaces, Fredrix canvas rolls provide the quality and versatility you need.

Canvas Sizes: From Tiny Studies to Huge Masterpieces

At Alabama Art Supply, we stock Fredrix canvases in a huge range of sizes — from small 5" squares perfect for studies and gifts, to large-scale 96" canvases ready for major installations and statement pieces.

Stretched Canvases: Available in many standard and custom sizes, from small to very large.

Canvas Boards and Panels: Generally range from small (5x7") to medium/large formats.

Canvas Pads: Great for smaller or medium-sized projects; typically 9x12", 12x16", and similar.

Canvas Rolls: Offer the ultimate freedom — cut and stretch to any size you can dream up!

Rounds and Ovals: Available in a selection of smaller to medium sizes — perfect for portraits, abstracts, and unique displays.

📌 PRO TIP
Whatever size you need — whether it's a mini canvas for daily painting challenges or a massive piece for gallery walls — we have a Fredrix surface that’s ready for your next creative adventure!

Understanding Fredrix Canvas Materials

Choosing the right canvas isn't just about size — it's about the materials, weight, and texture too. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand what’s behind the surface you’re painting on.

Cotton vs. Linen vs. Polyflax: Which Canvas Fabric Fits Your Style?

Fredrix offers canvases made from cotton, linen, and polyflax blends — and each fabric brings unique benefits to your artwork. Here’s how to choose the right surface for your creative needs:

COTTON CANVAS

• Smooth and consistent surface — ideal for clean brushwork, glazing, and controlled painting techniques.
• Affordable and flexible — easy to stretch and forgiving for beginners and experienced artists alike.
• Best for: acrylic painting, daily practice, studies, and projects where affordability matters.

LINEN CANVAS

• Exceptionally strong fibers — resists stretching, shrinking, and warping over time.
• Archival-quality surface — perfect for professional work intended to last generations.
• Elegant natural texture — adds subtle depth and character to your brushstrokes.
• Best for: fine art, oil painting, gallery exhibits, and commissioned work.

POLYFLAX CANVAS

• Synthetic fiber blend — offers excellent stability against environmental changes like humidity and temperature.
• Smooth, uniform surface — ideal for highly detailed, technical painting styles.
• Lightweight and durable — great for artists who need dependable performance in a variety of settings.
• Best for: precision work, experimental mixed media, or artists needing a tough, consistent painting surface.

📌 PRO TIP

• Choose cotton for affordability and flexibility, linen for professional-quality longevity and natural texture, and polyflax for smooth, stable surfaces that stand up to changing conditions.
• If a stretched canvas starts to sag slightly over time, you can lightly mist the back with water and let it dry — it will tighten right back up!

Canvas Weight

Canvas weight refers to how heavy the fabric is per square yard. Heavier canvas holds up better under heavy paint, mixed media, or large-scale work, while lighter canvas is easier to stretch and transport.

Whether you're buying pre-stretched canvas or raw canvas rolls, choosing the right weight ensures your surface will perform the way you need it to.

CANVAS WEIGHT: WHY IT MATTERS FOR YOUR ART

Canvas is rated by its weight, measured in ounces per square yard — and the weight can make a big difference in how your painting feels and lasts.

Lightweight Canvas (7–10 oz.)

• Easier to stretch and transport — great for students, studies, quick projects, or pieces that will be framed behind glass.
• More flexible surface — perfect for lighter paint applications or detailed work where you don't want heavy texture.
• Best for: classroom work, sketches, practice paintings, lightweight displays.

 

Heavyweight Canvas (12–15 oz. and above)

• Stronger, sturdier surface — resists tearing and holds up beautifully under heavy layers of paint or impasto techniques.
• More professional feel — gives your finished painting a substantial, gallery-ready presence.
• Best for: bold brushwork, mixed media, large paintings, and fine art that demands durability.

📌 PRO TIP

Choose lightweight canvas when you need flexibility and economy. Choose heavyweight canvas when you want strength, durability, and a more substantial final piece.

Priming and Surface Texture

Most Fredrix canvases are primed with a universal acrylic gesso, making them ready for acrylic, oil, or mixed media work. Some premium options are archival-primed, offering museum-quality durability. Surface texture (or "tooth") can vary — smoother surfaces are ideal for detailed work, while more textured canvases are great for bold brushstrokes.

Canvas rolls offer the ultimate flexibility — you can order them unprimed and apply your own gesso or special priming techniques to suit your style.

UNIVERSAL ACRYLIC PRIMING

• Ready for anything — suitable for acrylic, oil, and mixed media right out of the package.
• Saves time — no extra prep needed before you start painting.
• Best for: artists who want flexibility between media or prefer convenience.

ARCHIVAL PRIMING (found on select linen and pro-level surfaces)

• Museum-quality finish — built for maximum paint adhesion and long-term preservation.
• Enhances longevity — helps prevent cracking and paint lifting over decades.
• Best for: professional or commissioned work, especially in oil paints.

SURFACE TEXTURE (TOOTH)

Ultra Smooth (like Blue Label)

• • Ideal for fine detail, portrait work, glazing, and clean linework.
  • Paint glides across the surface with minimal texture interference.

Medium to Heavy Tooth

• • Perfect for bold brushstrokes, texture-rich techniques, and expressive paintings.
  • Grips thicker paint applications for a more tactile, dynamic surface.

📌 PRO TIP

• Use smooth canvases when you want delicate precision. 
• Go for more textured surfaces when you want your brushstrokes, palette knife work, or layered effects to really show off.

Built to Last: Fredrix Stretcher Bars

A strong canvas needs a strong foundation. Fredrix stretcher bars are made from kiln-dried wood to resist warping and provide long-term stability. Understanding stretcher bar thickness can help you choose the best canvas for your project.

Standard 7/8" Depth: Great for framed artwork.

Gallery Wrap 1 3/8" Depth: No frame needed — just paint the sides.

PRO Series 2.25" Depth: Maximum impact, sturdy enough for large pieces.

Orange Label Fredrix Pro Dixie Canvases have wider, thicker bracer bars and extra bracing for greater support in larger sizes. (Photo: Orange Label 1 3/8" Gallery Wrap Canvas on the left, and Red Label 1 3/8" Gallery Wrap Canvas on the right.)

Quick Tips for Choosing Your Canvas

With so many options, picking the right canvas can feel overwhelming. Here are a few quick suggestions to help narrow it down:

Big, bold paintings → PRO 2.25" canvases for maximum impact.

Highly detailed work → Blue Label Ultra Smooth.

Watercolor work → Watercolor Stretched Canvas (no paper needed!).

Mixed media and classroom work → Mixed Media Boards or Canvas Pads.

Creative shapes → Convexo, Rounds, and Ovals for extra flair.

Choosing the Right Canvas Just Got Easier!

Here’s a quick guide to the Fredrix canvases we have in stock — organized by label color, surface type, and best uses. (Swipe sideways to see the full chart on mobile.)

 

Download a Chart to Find the Right Fredrix Canvas. See every type and surface for your favorite mediums.

Repairing Your Canvas: Simple Solutions for Common Problems

Even the best canvases sometimes need a little extra care. Whether you're dealing with a loose surface, a sagging corner, or minor tension issues, most repairs are quick and easy — no special tools required!

In this guide, we'll walk you through how to tighten a loose canvas using wooden keys and other simple techniques to keep your artwork looking its best. With just a few minutes of attention, you can extend the life of your canvas and maintain the professional appearance your work deserves.

Click here to read the Studio Notes Art Blog "Repairing Your Canvas."

Don't Miss Out!

This is the BIGGEST Fredrix shipment we’ve ever had — and some specialty canvases (like Convexo and rounds) are only available in limited quantities.

Come early, stock up, and save big during our Canvas Sale!
We can't wait to see what you’ll create. 🎨

Shop In-Store for the Best Selection

While you'll find a few Fredrix canvases listed on our website, we have an even larger selection available in the store — including many more sizes, depths, and specialty shapes. We have stretched canvases in-stock from 5”x5” up to 96”!

If you don’t see what you're looking for online, come by the store or call 205-322-4741 — we likely have it in stock and ready for you!

Ken’s Club Members enjoy an even bigger bonus:

✅ 50% OFF Fredrix stretched canvases, and 40% OFF boards, rolls, and panels every day — no need to wait for a sale.
Ask us about joining Ken’s Club or click here to sign up and save year-round on the art supplies you love!

← Previous Post Next Post →