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Canvas montages as a gift idea

Canvas is a special type of fabric that can be used for variety of purposes. Canvas is an open weave fabric that has been used for centuries due to its ability to withstand the conditions of time for prolonged periods. Probably the first use of canvas fabric in history was in making sails for the sail ships. Especially in the 13th and 14th centuries, more lighter fabrics were not known and thus canvas was the fabric of choice for its sturdiness as sails in sail ships. Also sails that were constructed out of canvas were able to travel more steadily even under extreme weather conditions. The properties of canvas allowed the sails to use wind efficiently and also to withstand tearing and wearing under heavy storms. However as time passed and technology improved more lighter fabrics were used instead of canvas for sail making. Nowadays it is still used in heavier sail ships as a fabric for constructing sails as it is more sturdy then any other type of fabric especially for longer distances. However for shorter distance sail boats, more lighter fabrics are used nowadays instead of canvas.

Now besides sail making, there are several other more uses for this special fabric. One such use is in making tents and other similar camping equipment. Again the main reason for the use of canvas is because of its sturdiness and its durability for prolonged periods of time even under extreme weather conditions. If you make tents made out of canvas, they are able to withstand rain and also tents made out of thick canvas are perfect for protection from the cold. Especially for tents that are designed for winter camping; heavy canvas is used to construct it, so that you can stay inside the tent even when it is snowing. Also for large tents like marquee, again canvas becomes the best alternative. Thus just like its use in sail construction, canvas is an important fabric when it comes to constructing tents. Also other camping equipment such as sturdy backpacks are also constructed from canvas. Again these backpacks differ from other backpacks due to the fact that they are usually water proof and they can be used for long periods of time on the outside, as they can resist weather conditions.

The word canvas is derived from the word cannabis which is a special type of plant derived from hemp. (It must not be confused with the psychotic drug cannabis although the plants are similar in nature) Canvas is usually preferred over other fabrics such as denim due to its sturdiness and flexibility under certain conditions. Thus denim is used more efficiently for clothing while canvas is preferred for more sturdier applications.

Another use of canvas that is quite wide spread is its use in painting. Canvas boards have been the medium of choice for painters. In fact canvas has been used for painting for centuries and most great works of art are constructed from canvas. Its ability to absorb oil based paints is very useful in preserving the works of art.

For Canvas Prints see CanvasDezign

By: Katharine McKee

For Canvas Prints see CanvasDezign

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