A4 canvas prints
Put a sheet of A4 on a 36mm frame and you get something closer to a small block than a flat picture. It is our smallest canvas at 210 x 297mm (8.3 x 11.7in), and it behaves differently from the rest.
Why the depth matters here.
The bars are the same 36mm whatever the size of the canvas. On an A0 that depth is a slim edge. On an A4 it is about a sixth of the width of the front, so the sides are a real part of the object. Seen from an angle on a shelf, the piece has weight and shadow that a frame could not give it.
That is the appeal. Small canvases stand on mantelpieces and desks, slot into bookshelves and sit in pairs on a windowsill. Artists use them as sample pieces at a fair or as a low-priced way into their work.
What survives at this size
- One clear subject. A pet, a flower, a single figure.
- Strong shapes and colour. Abstract work and graphic images hold up well.
- Close crops. Going in tight on a detail of a painting can be better than shrinking the whole of it.
Busy landscapes and crowded group shots fare badly. The texture of the canvas weave stays the same size while your picture shrinks, so fine detail gets lost in it.
Building a grid, step by step
- Choose an even number of images with a shared tone or theme.
- Lay them out on screen, or print them on office paper and move them around on the floor.
- Decide the gap. For small pieces, 20mm to 40mm usually works.
- Sum the size. A two-by-two grid of portrait A4s with 40mm gaps is 460mm wide and 634mm tall, close to a single A2.
- Mark the corners on the wall with masking tape, then hang from the top row down, checking with a level.
A grid of small canvases is fussy to hang, since any error is easy to see in the gaps. A paper template with the fixing points marked saves a lot of filling and repainting.
Should you go up a size?
Prices at the small end of the range sit fairly close together. If you can spare the space, it is worth seeing what the next size up looks like. Our A3 canvas guide covers that step.
| Size | Inches, approx | Each |
|---|---|---|
| A4 | 8.3 x 11.7 | £40.00 |
| A3 | 11.7 x 16.5 | £49.00 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
Selling a run of them? Discounts are available on quantity, and our notes on printing limited editions may help if you plan to number them.
Texture and small pieces.
Your questions.
Can I use the same image on a whole set of A4 canvases?
Yes. If you want one picture split across several small canvases, tell us the layout and gaps so the image can be divided correctly.
How do I hang such a small canvas?
A single small hook or nail is usually enough, resting on the top bar of the frame. Check that it sits level, and use a fixing that suits your wall.
Is A4 canvas good for text?
Only for a few bold words. Small lettering loses its edges on the weave, so a short phrase set large will work much better than a paragraph.