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4.5
(Update, again EXCELLENT april 25, 2018 : Received my 3rd canvas. Masterpiece Oil Primed Smooth Portrt Linen on Wooden Stretcher Bars: I continue to give these canvases a AAA+ rating... the wooden construction of the stretcher bars is so beautiful you could hang it backwards, back facing out, as a construct sculpture.... This latest canvas is 36"x30". these make you want to both paint, and paint "seriously" (whatever that means to you according to your style and aesthetic goals). I am curious why they stress their oil primed canvases are "absorbent" vs. "sealed/non-porous" which other grounds offer (e.g. Gamblin Oil Painting Ground .... but they don'f offer a completed canvas ready to paint, you have to do the process of applying the ground yourself.... no big deal for many, others don't want the extra process time before they get to actual painting time). I will ask this in questions, and update with answer. Again, these canvases are seriously wonderful.)l(Excellent additional Update: feb 6, 2018. A Client-Patron-Friend just bought and had delivered to me a 36"x36" also, for a project group of paintings of her family. Just arrived! the Packing was yet more secure than on previous purchase, and the canvas, yet again, is just amazing. I just unwrapped it, shot some photos and will upload. So this is my SECOND of these acquired. Masterpiece Elite Oil Primed on Smooth Portrait Linen 36x36" and 40"x30" 1.5inch depth).Original review on first canvas....Beautiful meticulously and sturdily made wooden stretcher bars and seriously well applied oil ground. VERY serious stretched canvas. Remember, with a very well done canvas like this oil primed smooth linen one, if you are on thicker stretcher bars (i bought the one on 1.5", then even the substantial cost for the canvas, is outweighed by the fact that your finished piece will not need to be framed (unless you choose to, or your client wants it framed), as it will look fine and very substantial on the wall without a frame due to the depth of the stretcher bars and substantiality of the presentation. Any serious frame can cost as much, or 10 more, than even one of the most expensive of these smooth linen oil ground stretched canvases. So, that offsets the substantial cost of these canvases and can actually save you money. This product refers to its oil ground base as purposefully very absorbent, I believe, and I am curious why absorbance vs. creating a smooth seal (which wouldn't keep drinking in linseed oil) is preferred? Perhaps it offers more of a "bond" between the canvas and the ensuing coats of oil paint? I rather like a sealed smooth, non-absorbent ground, but thought I would give one of these, obviously VERY well made canvases a try.
