There are several different varieties of canvas

There are several different varieties of canvas, both imported and domestic, in manufacture. The best which is brought to this country is Winsor & Newton's make.  This comes in what is known as the single primed, the smooth finish, the twilled and the Roman canvas, which is of a very coarse, large texture.

For work of any importance the best canvas should always be used; what particular kind to select is a matter of taste, some artists preferring the twilled, some the smooth, and others the Roman canvas. A good canvas for any kind of painting, which is kept by all dealers, is Winsor & Newton's single primed English canvas. French and German canvases are also good; the canvas must always be of linen, as those prepared on cotton foundations, though apparently as good and much cheaper, will warp and shrink in time, cracking the paint and spoiling the picture.

Some artists prepare their canvases before using, by covering them all over with a tone of light warm gray paint, put on thickly. This is allowed to dry very hard, and is then scraped with a palette knife or scraper until the most prominent roughnesses have disappeared. Before beginning to paint over such a preparation, it must be well oiled out. Other materials used for painting upon are mill board, academy board, and wooden panels. For small, finely finished pictures mill boards are sometimes preferred to canvas. These come in all sizes, from 5x8, costing twenty-five cents, of English make, up to 18x24, at $1.75 each. The large sizes, however, are seldom used, canvas being preferable.  The mill boards consist of strong, firm panels, prepared with a fine, smooth surface: they are almost if not quite as solid as wood, and do not warp.

Less expensive are the academy boards, which are of somewhat the same character, but thinner and less firm. These are useful for small sketches, decorated cards, illustrations, etc., but if used in large sizes will bend out of shape. Academy boards come in sheets of different sizes, from 6x9, at io cents each, English make, up to 18x24, costing 40 cents each. The large sheets are the most economical, as they can be cut into any size or shape desired. The German sketching canvas is very cheap, and sufficiently good for ordinary purposes, if economy is the object. If not, we should advise that the best be used under all circumstances. A wise artist never economizes by using cheap materials, as it is more expensive in the end. Always buy the best colors and the best canvas if possible.