Buy Canvas for Art Online Australia

Riot Art & Craft is home to Australia's most comprehensive online collection of artist canvases, from beginner-friendly canvas panels to large canvas art for professional painters. 

Shop our pre-primed, 100% cotton canvas art options ready to paint straight out of the box. Every surface you need with free metro shipping on orders over $80. 

What is a Canvas?

A canvas is the surface an artist paints on, which is traditionally a piece of woven fabric, most commonly cotton or linen, stretched tightly over a wooden frame and primed for paint adhesion.

Buy Quality Blank Canvases for Painting Online

Riot Art & Craft stocks one of Australia's widest online ranges of blank artists canvases for painting, which includes everything from small study-sized panels to large stretched canvases for statement works. Every artwork canvas in our range is pre-primed and ready to paint straight away, which means no prep and more time to paint. Whether you're a hobbyist or a professional, you'll find the right blank canvas at the right price here at Riot, with free metro shipping on orders over $80. Afterpay is also available at checkout. 

Shop Canvas by Type

Explore our full range of art canvases by surface and style, each designed for a specific technique, medium, or skill level.

• All Painting Canvases — Browse our complete collection of artist canvases, panels, and boards in every size and format.

• Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas — The classic choice for artwork on canvas; pre-primed, frame-ready, and available in sizes from mini to large canvas art.

• Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas With Wooden Frame — A sturdy, exhibition-ready option for artists who want a polished, professional finish straight from the easel.

• Canvas Panels — Lightweight and rigid, canvas panels are ideal for studies, plein air painting, and beginners exploring artist painting for the first time.

• Thin Bar Stretched Canvas — A sleek, space-saving profile perfect for detailed artwork canvas pieces and wall-hung displays.

• Round Canvases — Break away from the rectangle with round art canvases that add a contemporary edge to any subject.

• Wooden Painting Boards — A firm, smooth surface for oils, acrylics, and mixed media which is great for artists who prefer a rigid painting ground.

• Alcohol Ink Boards — Specially coated non-porous boards designed for vibrant alcohol ink flow and stunning fluid art results.

How to Choose the Right Art Canvas

Choosing the right artist's canvas depends on your medium, style, and how you plan to display your finished work.

Surface type is your first decision. Stretched canvases are pre-mounted on a wooden frame and ready to hang. These are ideal for finished artwork on canvas. Canvas panels are flat and rigid, better suited to studies and travel. Wooden painting boards offer the firmest surface, preferred by oil painters and mixed media artists.

Cotton vs linen affects texture and longevity. Cotton art canvases are affordable, slightly textured, and perfect for most artists painting at any skill level. Linen is finer, stronger, and used by professional artists for large canvas art intended to last decades.

Bar depth changes the look of your finished piece. Thin bar canvases sit flush to the wall; thick gallery-wrapped options create a bold three-dimensional edge that needs no frame.

Priming saves preparation time. Most art canvases in our range are pre-primed, meaning you can start painting immediately.

What is a Frame in Art & Craft?

A frame in art and craft is the structural border used to display or support a finished artwork on canvas. For canvas paintings, it can be a decorative outer border added after completion, or the internal wooden structure the canvas is stretched over. Gallery-wrapped stretched canvases are designed to hang without an additional frame, which means the painted image wraps cleanly around the sides for a contemporary, exhibition-ready finish.

What is a Stretcher in Art & Craft?

A stretcher bar is the internal wooden frame over which canvas fabric is pulled taut to create a stretched canvas. The bars slot together at the corners and can be re-tensioned over time using small wooden keys. The bar depth defines the canvas profile. Thin bar canvases sit flush to the wall, while gallery-wrapped canvases with a wooden frame use a deeper bar to create a bold, three-dimensional edge perfect for frameless display.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of canvas is best for acrylic painting?

A pre-primed, 100% cotton stretched canvas or canvas panel is the best choice for acrylics. Cotton holds paint well, dries true to colour, and accepts multiple layers without cracking.

What are the different types of canvases?

Artist canvases fall into four main types: stretched canvases, canvas panels, canvas rolls, and speciality surfaces like round canvases and alcohol ink boards.

How do I prepare a raw canvas before painting?

Apply two to three coats of gesso with a flat brush, allowing each coat to dry fully. Most Riot canvases come pre-primed, so this step is only needed for raw canvas rolls.

What's the difference between cotton and linen canvases?

Cotton canvases are affordable and ideal for beginners to intermediate painters. Linen is finer, stronger, and more durable, making it preferred by professional artists for large-scale works intended for long-term display.