Stitch Painted Canvas vs. Free-Hand Painted Canvas

I get asked the same 2 questions all the time:

1. Why are needlepoint canvases so expensive?
2. What is a stitch painted canvas?

I made this video, not to teach you how to paint, but to show you what to look for when purchasing canvases. First, let’s talk about the difference between a stitch painted canvas and free-hand painted canvas:

A stitch painted canvas is one where the design is charted out and each intersection is painted to take the guess work out for the stitcher on where to put their next stitch.
A free-hand painted canvas is one where the artist simply just paints on the canvas without charting out the design first.
There is no “correct” way of painting a canvas but a stitch painted canvas is much easier for the stitcher to follow.

Things to look for when buying a canvas:
If purchasing on instagram/website, zoom in on the picture and look to see if each intersection on a bend is painted. If there is a circle or rounded letter, those are good places to check for stitch painting
Does it look like the design is outlined in pen? If so, this is a good indication of a free-hand painted canvas.
Does the canvas seem very pricey? This is a good sign of a stitch painted canvas since it takes a lot more time for the designer to create.

If you are unsure if the canvas is stitch painted, feel free to reach out to the designer to ask them! There is no harm in knowing what you are buying!