Collages on Canvas

Something that I've noticed recently is the growing popularity of people getting collages printed onto canvas. Rather then getting your digital all separately printed, picking out the ones you think work well together then trying to arrange them in a frame the simpler option is definitely canvas collage. With collages on canvas you can arrange the collage on photoshop, edit and sort out the images without the need to print, then simply send the collage image file in for printing and within a few days you have a ready to hang canvas collage. If you weren't familiar with photoshop or other image software or simply didn't have the time to go playing around with images then you could simply e-mail us on on the images with the style and size you would like and we will do all the work for you. To have a look at the styles and design cost fee just follow the link below:
http://www.usaoncanvas.com/include/canvas_photo_collages.php





The block style, example on the left, works great with merging images of a similar theme into the one print. The optional lines displays the images as seperate pieces preventing them from being lost amongst the crowd!













Another option is a blended collage which allows you to blend and overlay seperate images together creating one image rather then lots of images arranged together. This option works well when you want text incorporated into the image.

Collages on Canvas are definitely something to keep in mind. They make great gifts, come ready to hang and can be completed for you without you having to spend hours surrounded by images trying to figure out what to do with them!

Pinhole Photography

Pinhole Photography is basically photography without the use of a lens, it is a great way to experiment with photography. You can create pinhole photo's by making cameras out of tins and exposing directly onto photographic paper or if you lack the access to darkroom facilities you can use your SLR with the lens detached. For detailed information on how to create your own pinhole photographs follow the link below.
http://www.pinholephotography.org/links.htm

Below are some pinhole photographs that I really like.



Justin Quinnell - Pinhole photography taken from inside the mouth

Underwater Photography

All this summer heat has been making me crave a cooling swim in the sea. this in turn got me thinking about underwater photography so I started looking it up. I've always wanted to get underwater casing for my camera and seeing these images has convinced me that it would be a worth while investment. Not saying that I expect a lot from myself but the experimentation will be too fun to turn down!

When I was on-line I came across Dustin Humphrey and was blown away by his photographs. He manages to mix underwater still lifes with surfing to result in a surreal and enchanting effect.

Portrait Photography

I find something so fascinating about portrait photography, its as if through the these up close images you are getting to know the subject of the portrait without ever meeting them. Portrait photography has the ability to display the personality and even the mood of the subject. It can show the vulnerability of people as they are not able to hide from the camera lens.

One of my favorite portrait artists is Diane Arbus. Diane Arbus was an American photographer, known for her black and white square photographs, mainly portraits, of people on the outskirts of "normality". She was fascinated with the abnormal and would photograph anyone from a dwarf to a nudist, she would also go to Freak shows in search of her subject matter. Arbus believed that "there are things nobody would see if I didn't photograph them." She took portrait photography to a new level by exploring what society chose to ignore (examples below).





























Diane Arbus was before the digital age so she printed up all of her photographs in her darkroom, they weren't left in a file on a computer being forgotten. Although the digital age has been a blessing for photography, pushing it beyond what previously couldn't be dreamed of. I feel that it has also been a slight curse to photography, with all the mass production around us people have stopped treasuring photographs as they used to. This snap happy society documents every moment for the images just to become lost amongst the thousands on a hard-drive, I am the first to admit that I fall into this category.

We should start admiring the photo's we have. Go through your computer and re-discover the photographs you once loved. Get them printed and decorate your home with your own art. the popularity with printing on canvas is growing everyday, through this process you can turn your image files into a 3D piece ready to hang. For some ideas and to see how easy this process is visit our website on http://www.usaoncanvas.com/.

Silhouettes

With the sun out in full bloom in the summer, something that always catches my attention are shadows. They are so simple and ordinary yet can be so fascinating at times. Then the other day I noticed someones shadowed profile and i immediately began to think about Silhouettes and how something in its simplicity can be so dramatic.

Silhouettes have been used as an art form for centuries, originating in the 18th century and applied to portraits or other pictorial representations cut from thin black card. Jane Austen's Silhouette to the right. Silhouettes are still being used by modern day artists as a way for them to express themselves.


Sherrie Levine took mass-produced images, such as fashion models from magazines, and from them cut out silhouettes of the past presidents of the United States in order to challenge established ideas about originality and authorship. (image below on the left )

Kara Walker is another modern day artists who uses the original silhouette style of cutting the image out of black card to explore gender, race, sexuality and violence. Her cut-outs, which she attaches straight to the gallery walls at her exhibition, are so dramatic and powerful. She puts her audience in front of a black and whie wold displaying the harshness of racism. (image below on the right)


























With modern technology anyone can make a silhouette by taking a digital profile image and working with it a bit on photoshop:


You could create your own silhouettes in photoshop, get them printed up on canvas and have your own 18th century artwork decorating your home. To check out prices and some of our canvas options or simply to enquire about getting us to create a silhouette for you go to:
http://www.usaoncanvas.com/

Printmaking and It's Advances and Advantages

Printmaking is a process that allows an artist to easily produce and distribute their original work to the masses. It has changed and advanced greatly throughout the years. The processes have gotten easier to learn, faster to produce and far more accessible to the public.

In the beginning there were woodcuts and etchings created by the Old Masters such as Durer (woodcut on the right "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse") and Goya (Etching to the left "Los Caprichos").











This form of printing is a long process of preparation, in the case of the woodcut the process is loosely: designing your image, cutting into the wood, proofing the woodcut and lastly printing once you are satisfied with the finished product. You could spend days completing a compilcated print however once it is complete you can reproduce the work of art over and over. This reproduction of Art is an aspect that was not possible in the painting and sculpture world.







Throughout the years printing processes expanded and became easier and faster. Once the camera came into existence there was no stopping the growth and popularity of print. Now in the digital era the masses can become photographer/artists and there are almost no boundaries. Image can be distorted, blown -up, scaled down, merged with others and all within minutes! Not to mention how fast printers have become. You can even reproduce paintings by scanning and printing the image directly onto to canvas making it, in some cases, hard to tell which the original is.

Above is a reproduction of a painting achieved through Giclee on Canvas.

In my opinion Printmaking has introduced Art as a past-time to anyone who's interested as opposed to the elite.

Quick links:
Check out how you can create your own art, turning photographs into images on canvas, at http://www.canadaoncanvas.com/
Want to reproduce your own paintings or enlarge some old photograph's that require scanning? Visit http://www.canadaoncanvas.com/include/artwork_scanning.php

Wedding Photographers: Capturing Your Clients' Special Day on Canvas

A canvas print is a unique way to preserve the memories from a very special day in a couple's life.

When wedding photographers sell prints to their clients, it's now quite easy to offer them prints in a medium other than the usual photographic fine art print: Giclees on Canvas.

A stretched canvas print has a different kind of presence than a framed image. It creates an image that stands out from the wall and demands to be observed. With no need to frame and the Canvas's produced ready-to-hang, giclee on canvas is a easy way to turn images into works of Art.

Many of the orders we receive here at www.CanadaOnCanvas.com are of Wedding photographs. The orders differ immensely from large scale prints of the bride and groom, collages of moments throughout the day, group photographs of the bridal party to symbolic images celebrating their joyous day.

We also provide free shipping for orders over $99 to all of Canada and USA. To get an idea of our prices please follow the link to our canvas price calculator: http://www.canadaoncanvas.com/include/prices.php

Taking old treasured photograph's and turning them into works of Art

The new trend of printing photo's onto canvas is a great way to turn your favorite images into works of art, whether it is a digital image that never made it out of your hard-drive or an old photograph you would like reproduced. We offer a scanning service that would allow us to scan and enlarge an old image, giving it a new lease of life.

Our finished products are gallery wrapped and ready to hang—that is, the canvas is wrapped around the sides and back of a wooden frame, then stapled to the back where it's hidden from view when the artwork is hung on a wall for display. A wire is also affixed to the back, and we package the hooks and nails for you to use for wall hanging.

Need a gift idea for paternal figure in you life? We are offering a 10% Fathers Day discount. Since we accept orders online, and offer free standard shipping across Canada and the US for orders over $99, that makes things a little more convenient for those of you outside our locale (we're located in Vancouver BC).

Check out our other facilities offers on http://canadaoncanvas.com/.

Plaque mounting: not just for your graduation certificates

Looking for a display solution for your posters that's durable, but without the formality of a glass-and-moulding frame? Plaque mounting may be a good option to consider.

Plaque mounting is also a good choice for organizations and businesses with information panels, photographs, and diagrams to display at offices, outdoor or indoor fairs and festivals, speaking engagements and presentations, fundraising events, and more. The MDF board mounted and laminated plaques are very portable, water-resistant, and sturdy enough to withstand frequent packing and unpacking.

Visit our website to find out more about our plaque mounting services: http://USAonCanvas.com/include/plaque_mounting.php

The page also includes a handy price calculator based on plaque dimensions!

Fine art giclees on Daguerre Canvas from Hahnemühle

We received a delivery of rolls and rolls of canvas we just began using. The Daguerre Canvas from Hahnemühle is a 400 gsm acid-free poly-cotton canvas, excellent for archival quality fine art giclees, particularly when combined with our large format pigmented inkjet system.

Hahnemühle has been producing fine art paper since 1584, when Merten Spieß established a paper mill, Relliehäusische Papiermühle, in Solling, Germany—so you know their quality is renowned in the business!

Information from the Hahnemühle website:

Applications

Photographic and fine art reproduction complying with highest archival standards, digital art, black & white and colour photography, limited edition prints, presentation prints for display purposes and exhibitions, albums, greeting cards etc.

Specifications

• 400 gsm

• 56 mm thickness

• Bright White

• 98% opacity

• pH value of 7.6

• acid-free

• high water resistance

• instant-drying

• matte finish

Contact us at info [at] USA On Canvas [dot] com if you'd like a sample of the Daguerre Canvas from Hahnemühle mailed to you!

Make limited edition fine art prints on archival paper and canvas

Artists looking to print a run of limited edition prints can take advantage of our volume discount.

Many artists offer prints of their original paintings, photographs, or prints to provide clients with an additional, more affordable option to own their artwork. With the growing popularity and accessibility of digital media, giclees are becoming increasingly easy and cost-effective to create.

We offer a selection of archival, fine art papers, cotton rags, as well as our PremierArt Generations Canvas to print your limited edition giclees on. You can visit our Fine Art Prints page for more details.

An overview of our fine art papers:

Hahnemuhle - Photo Rag Bright White 310gsm

Hahnemuhle's new Photo Rag Bright White 310 gsm paper offers the same smooth surface as the other very popular Photo Rag Papers. This 100% rag, acid free fine art paper provides a brighter white base and is designed to give extra brilliance and depth to black and white images. It is also ideally suited for color images where extra brightness might be desired.

- Acid free to preserve fine art and photos
- 100% rag for long term durability
- Bright White 310gsm 44"x39' roll
- Photo Rag Bright White 310 gsm

Moab Paper - Entrada Fine Art 190gsm 15.5 mil

The award winning ENTRADA Fine Art is what makes Moab Paper Company stand above the competition. All of the Entrada Fine Art papers are made of the highest quality 100% cotton rag. The Bright White version has been designed to offer maximum contrast and whites that really pop. This paper utilizes multiple receiving layers which equate to a superior ink load capacity allowing for features unique to Entrada, including water resistance, instant drying times and prints with incredible detail and excellent tonality. Entrada also features a maximum color gamut and exceptionally deep blacks.

This paper is designed specifically for archival pigment inks and works remarkably well with the latest Epson Ultrachrome inks. The 190gsm Bright White version is a double sided mid to heavy weight which will still load in most desktop printers.

- Designed specifically for archival pigment inks
- Acid-free, buffered
- Semi-smooth Matte Surface, 100% Cotton rag
- Bright White, Dual Sided
- Photo Rag Bright White 190 gsm 15.5 mil

Epson Textured Fine Art Paper by Crane®

- Acid free to preserve fine art and photos
- 100% cotton rag for long term durability
- White surface for vivid color reproduction
- Rich black images for prints with exceptional contrast
- Textured surface for a true artistic appearance
- 425 g/m basis weight for museum quality prints (sheets)
- 225 g/m basis weight for maximum versatility (rolls)

Epson UltraSmooth Fine Art Paper

- 100% cotton hot press for long term durability
- Acid free and pH buffered to preserve fine art and photos
- Natural white, ultra smooth surface for incredible detail and accurate reproduction
- Outstanding D-Max for prints with exceptional contrast
- Dries instantly for easy handling with Epson inks

PremierArt Generations Canvas

- Highest resolution canvas coating for outstanding reproductions
- Medium gloss surface for easy spraying
- Unique texture for true artistic look
- Heavyweight for quality feel
- Acid free 100% cotton archival quality base
- Stretchable for framing

QUICK LINKS
http://www.usaoncanvas.com/include/fineart_prints.php

Inkjet printing on fabric: LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth

We recently acquired some new material to print on!

In addition to canvas, cotton rags, photographic paper, and other art papers, we now have a lightweight fabric to add to our list. If you're an artist or photographer who uses lightboxes to back-light your artwork, you might be interested in trying this out!

The LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth is a polyester fabric that serves as a great substrate for giclees—the test prints we've made with the archival pigmented inks from our Epson 9880 44” Stylus Pro inkjet printer have shown fantastic rendering of fine image details.

Want to see some other uses for it? Check out this informative article on Studio LexJet's website on the landscape photographs of Leslie D. Bartlett, printed in scroll and folding screen format on the Water-Resistant Satin Cloth.

Here's some more information about LexJet's Water-Resistant Satin Cloth, taken from their website.

LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth is a lightweight, water-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, tear-resistant polyester fabric that produces excellent image quality. It has quickly become a popular option for photo exhibitions, trade-show graphics, P-O-P displays, and décor art.

LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth has been used in retractable banner stands, art-gallery exhibitions, table skirts, window shades, flags, privacy screens, and dozens of other applications. This cloth is a great alternative to traditional backlit films, because the colors really pop when prints on Water-Resistant Satin Cloth are lit from behind.

It also feels soft and luxurious and is easy to hang and transport. As its name implies, this cloth is highly resistant to water (particularly with pigment inks).

The coating can hold high levels of ink saturation for richer, more brilliant color on the ultra-white base polyester cloth.

LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth works with dye or pigment inks.

Overview:

• Ideal for retractable banner stands, table skirts, window shades, gallery wraps, and art tapestries
• Lightweight, easy-to-hang, frame-free alternative for exhibition prints
• Smooth, bright-white, wrinkle-resistant fabric that provides excellent image quality
  
  

We already know that Jeff Wall's large format photographs look fantastic on lightboxes.

Jeff Wall, After "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison, the Prologue (2000)
via C.K.H.

Photo by Underpuppy

Do you wonder how your artwork would look on backlit LexJet Water-Resistant Satin Cloth?...

Giclees On Canvas: A Great Mother's Day Gift

Mother's Day is fast approaching! If you're looking for a gift for a “mom” figure in your life, one idea is having one of their favourite photos printed onto canvas.



Since we accept orders online, and offer free standard shipping across the US and Canada for orders over $99, that makes things a little more convenient for those of you outside our locale (we're located in Vancouver BC).

You can place your order by visiting our website USAonCanvas.com, doing a really quick set-up of your online account, uploading your image (or images), and completing the order details and payment information on the forms. We'll send you a confirmation that we've received your order and have your order ready in 3-5 business days. We'll send you a notification that your giclees are ready for pick-up, or that we've shipped them to your shipping address. Simple!

Upkeep for giclees on canvas are quite simple and low-maintenance. We use archival, water-resistant pigmented inks, so your prints will last a very long time. The Epson inks we use are projected to last for 80 – 100 years. We also apply a finishing to the canvas after printing. This additional coating further protects your print from UV rays, and makes it easy to wipe-clean with a damp cloth. You can also help prolong the display life of your canvas print by keeping it out of direct sunlight, heat, smoke, &c.



Our stretched canvas prints come ready-to-hang. The canvases are gallery wrapped—that is, the canvas is wrapped around the sides and back of a wooden frame, then stapled to the back where it's hidden from view when the artwork is hung on a wall for display. A wire is also affixed to the back, and we package the hooks and nails for you to use for wall hanging.

So if you've got a photograph you'd like a maternal figure in your life to have, as a gift to celebrate your relationship with one another, maybe a canvas print would be just the thing to bring a smile to their face.

Be sure to take advantage of our Special Mother's Day 10% discount code on the main page of our site!

QUICK LINKS:
Our price calculator and chart for giclees on canvas: http://www.usaoncanvas.com/include/prices.php
FAQ: http://www.usaoncanvas.com/include/canvas_faqs.php