If you’ve been searching for the best canvases for acrylics, you’re in luck.
Finding a high-quality canvas that is easy to use and which doesn’t break the bank can be tough.
They come in so many shapes and sizes and they’re not always value for money. This usually leads to the problem of canvases created for acrylics breaking too quickly or warping after a couple of uses.
Furthermore, not all canvases are created equal. Some are thin and not very absorbent meaning your painting will dry unevenly. Others are so thick you could balance a cup of coffee on them.
Below I’ve listed the best canvases for acrylics on the market right now.
They’re curated to support a range of skill levels. These canvases are particularly easy to use, have a medium thickness, are non-warping and are created with a stretchable surface that’s easy to paint on.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Arteza Stretched Canvas 11×14” White Blank Bulk Pack of 8 | Best Overall |  |
| U.S. Art Supply 8 x 10 inch Stretched Canvas 12-Ounce Primed 4-Pack | Budget Pick |  |
| Masterpiece Artist Canvas 35305 Elite 1-1/2" Deep | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Arteza Stretched Canvas 11×14” White Blank Bulk Pack of 8
Pros:
- High-quality material
- Pack of 8 canvases in different sizes
- Great value for money
Cons:
- Can fray if proper care is not taken
- Can apply patchings if not primed
The Arteza Stretched Canvas are ready to use straight out of the box. They’re all primed to ensure the best quality. They’re a great value for money and won’t let you down.
There are quite a few canvases included in the pack. The values included in the pack are: 6×8”, 8×10”, 9×12”, 11×14”, 12×16”, 16×20”, 20×24”, and 24×30”. That’s 11 different sizes in total, so you have a lot of canvas to work with no matter which kind of project you’re working on.
2. conda Artist Acid Free Stretched Canvas 8 X10 10 Pack 5/8 inch Professional Quality Frame Canvas
Pros:
- Uniformly stretched
- Brilliant white color tone
- Pack includes everything you need for artwork
- Canvas is sturdy and can stand flat on its own
- 14-day satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- Canvas can seem thin
- Some of the canvas may appear a little yellow
This amazing canvas by Cona is an 8 x 10 pack of five-eighth inch deep artist canvas. The canvas is designed to work with tons of different paints and makes for a beautiful painting.
This particular canvas comes in a pack of 10 canvases to make it easier for you to get started with your art project. The back of one of the canvases is a wood frame to keep things together.
The canvas is made of 100 percent cotton linen for that beautiful canvas texture. It’s made with the finest archival quality pigments to ensure longevity. The oil-free surface also means that it’s safe for you to use for art projects with children.
3. Art Alternatives stretched White Canvas Super Value Pack-11 x 14 inches-Pack of 7
Pros:
- Thick, heavyweight plastic-coated canvas
- Pliable, heavy-duty edges
- Numbered corners to make display on easels easier
- Bright white canvas for painting vivid colors
- Dimensions are pretty close to the advertised size
Painting on these canvases is a dream. They're a great size, they have the heavy duty canvas with the nice soft edges, and their dimensions are pretty much spot on. When you put them on the easel, they just lay straight and flat.
They are also an amazing deal when you consider the price you're getting for seven canvases. If you're doing a grouping of paintings in a classroom or studio, this is an amazing deal. You get the value with very little sacrifice.
4. U.S. Art Supply 8 x 10 inch Stretched Canvas 12-Ounce Primed 4-Pack
Pros:
- Comes in a multipack of 12 canvases
- Lightweight and easy to transport
- Can hold wet or dry media
- Very soft and sturdy
- Gesso finish can be painted through
- Does not require any stretcher bars
- Warranty included
- Affordable
Ings, Digital Art and Drawing Easel.
When it comes to the number of blank canvases for painting, you won’t run out of options with this option from U.S. Art Supply. Not only does it include well over 100 of them, but each one is also 12×10 inch in size. These canvases are flat-packed and are made with a high-quality and durable gesso primer. The black stretch panel is made from heavy-weight black cotton.
These canvases are made from an acid free and primed solid linen that provides that optimal canvas ground for oil and acrylic paintings. You don’t have to worry about warping, staining or cracking and the materials will last for a long time to come.
5. Masterpiece Artist Canvas MC-1117 Monet Pro 1-1/2" Deep
Pros:
- Definite bargain
- Absolutely beautiful paint surface
- Won’t buckle during drying
- Made from just the right thickness of canvas with a marvelous quality of cotton that’s sturdy and flexible
- Best for those who want to paint on their canvases without having to worry about warping the canvases
Cons:
- Paint easily peels off of the canvas after allowing to dry
- Canvas is a bit stiff, but not too stiff
The MC-1117 Monet Pro is a great canvas to use even by beginners in the art world. It’s available in different sizes and absolutely ideal for artists and beginners. It’s made from 100% cotton, specifically for artists and come with its very own package of primer paint. This allows the canvas to take to the paint easier and quicker.
While it’s ideal for beginners, there’s no doubt that this canvas is best for the seasoned artist. It’s a definite bargain for the price it’s sold for compared to other products on the market. The canvas is absolutely gorgeous, and has a sublime feel to it, hugging the paint on the canvas so that it doesn’t buckle during the drying process.
6. Masterpiece Artist Canvas 35305 Elite 1-1/2" Deep
When we set out to research the best canvases for acrylics, we wanted to find one that could deliver excellence every time you use it. The Masterpiece Artist Canvas does just that.
As its name suggests, the Masterpiece Artist Canvas is a high-quality grade of canvas that features a 3-ply construction. This helps to maximize its density, which in turn makes for very smooth and even painting. The canvas also comes with reinforced corner protectors that add to the sturdiness of the product.
We loved the benefits of using the Masterpiece Artist Canvas for acrylic painting projects. Canvas that is too smooth can make it difficult to achieve a rough texture, but in this case, we were glad there wasn’t any noticeable texture at all. This means that you’re free to paint with any of your painting techniques.
7. The Edge All Media Cotton Deluxe Stretched Canvas
Pros:
- Great for oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting
- Canvas is stretched and includes a wooden frame
- Canvas is 1.5 inches deep
- Canvas folds easily for transporting
- Canvas is sturdy
What we love about these canvases is the fact that you get to paint on the canvas edges, not the sides. This allows for a framing-free presentation when you use these canvases for crafting.
They’re reliable canvases for oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings. If you need canvases that will last you for years to come…this is your best bet. The frames are reinforced with wood. There are no special tools needed.
These canvases can easily be transported are heavy duty. They’re sturdy enough for repeated use. These canvases are popular for workshops and art classes because of their stability.
8. DAVELIOU Stretched Canvas 11×14”
Pros:
- Can be framed easily with a standard 11 x 14" frame
- Lightweight and portable
- Prewashed and ready to paint on
- Canvas can be folded down to “carry around… and paint on the go
- Triple-primed in artist-grade acrylic paint and resin
- Canvas is sealed and finished (ready to paint on)
- Very suitable for oil, acrylic and marker (after 1st coating of paint is dry)
- Canvas is light enough and smooth enough for children to work on
- Pretty lean canvas, so it won’t bleed or soak up too much paint
- Affordable price for a 5-pack
Cons:
- These canvases are not made to be stretched the “old-fashioned way…” with rethreads
- DO NOT twist the sides to make the canvas go tighter on the stretcher bars
- Canvas is not pre-primed and ready to paint on
- Canvas is not pre-sized and ready to paint on.
Overview:
- These canvases are not made to be stretched the “old-fashioned way…” with rethreads
- DO NOT twist the sides to make the canvas go tighter on the stretcher bars
- Canvas is not pre-primed and ready to paint on
- Canvas is not pre-sized and ready to paint on.
9. Darice Cotton Stretched
Pros:
- Color-matched stretcher frame is primed and double primed
- 18x24x1.25” canvas size with wooden stretcher bars
- Canvas can be used for oil or acrylic painting
- The canvas is acid-free, which will protect your art from yellowing
- The opening is designed to fit standard stretched canvas, so you can easily purchase additional canvases to give your work depth
- The canvas is a medium weight, oil-primed cotton
We absolutely love the design of these frames and the display options they offer you. The frames are sturdy and built to last. In addition, they’re easy to install.
The frame itself is 18 x 24 x 1.25 inches and the canvas size is 18 x 24. This will be able to comfortably fit a 24 x 30 inch stretched canvas. The canvas is a medium weight cotton.
Since the canvas is a medium weight, initial use may require some stretching and we also recommend that you add at least two coats of a good quality acrylic gesso.
10. Darice Cotton Stretched Canvas
Pros:
- Gets a smooth finish after painting
- Easy to clean
- Can be scrubbed with a scourer
- Great choice for beginners
- Can be left untrimmed
- Can be stretched over a frame
Cons:
- Can be bent when not supervised
- Not ideal for heavy-handed artists
- Isn’t compatible with oil paints
- Can be a pain to cut with a blunt knife
The Darice stretched canvases are great for all sorts of painting projects. We love the wooden frame that makes these canvases look more professional. You can paint on them with acrylic or oil paints.
Darice stretched canvases are made of high-quality cotton and are pre-primed with an acrylic finish for better adherence of your paints. People use these canvases for watercolor painting, oil painting, oil pastel painting and more.
The canvases come in a pack of two, and feature a wooden frame and canvas that can be put together without tools. The wood is lightweight but sturdy, and the screws are designed for easy assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best canvas to paint acrylic on?
In general, canvas for acrylic paints are often more expensive than other materials. But not always.
Although canvas can be beautiful, it can be difficult to learn on because the paint doesn’t dry quickly. Most beginner acrylic painters find that gessoed paper is easier and faster to work with and gives them a better understanding of color and blending.
If you are experienced with acrylics, however, the canvas is a more professional effect as it is more like dealing with oils.
What type of paint do you use on canvases?
Acrylic painters will usually use Liquitex acrylics. Performance is very similar to Golden Acrylics, and the price is cheaper.
Will acrylic paint work on a canvas?
Acrylic paint is manufactured as a water-based product (it is also compatible with others in the same group – enamels, oils etc). It can be applied directly to a canvas, but painting on a canvas with acrylic paint is not always successful.
One big issue is that acrylic paints contain very little pigment. On a canvas, this means that the paint color, even when applied in coats of deep pigment, will be transparent and lose the essence of what the paint color was meant to be.
In addition to the transparency problem, painting on a thickly applied ground can be tedious, especially with the usually poor brush strokes an amateur will suffer through.
Can you use acrylic paint instead of gesso?
Gesso is essentially what acrylics are based on, so it is a good way of preparing your canvas.
Gesso is basically a white paint that you rub into the canvas, which helps to prime the surface. This prevents paint from bleeding through and making problems later on.
Since the end goal is essentially the same, you could use acrylic paint in place of white gesso. The stiffer, thicker consistency of gesso gives an edge, though.
In a pinch, you could probably use brand-name gesso in place of plain white acrylic paint. But buying a liter of gesso will cost less than a tub of acrylic paint.
Conclusion
We researched and looked at the top canvases for acrylic paint, and have written our findings in this guide. After reading this, you should have an excellent idea of what to look for.
You may also be able to find a good deal on some of the canvases we’ve recommended on Amazon.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Arteza Stretched Canvas 11×14” White Blank Bulk Pack of 8 | Best Overall | |
| U.S. Art Supply 8 x 10 inch Stretched Canvas 12-Ounce Primed 4-Pack | Budget Pick | |
| Masterpiece Artist Canvas 35305 Elite 1-1/2" Deep | Upgrade Pick | |