Discover the secret of flat canvas corners
Preparing a canvas is a key step for any artist who wants quality in his work. In contemporary Swiss art, every little detail is important. A well-stretched canvas, free of wrinkles and irregularities, is essential. René Mayer has developed a special method for avoiding corner bulges, a common problem for many artists. Although the technique seems simple, it requires precise know-how and can change the way a work looks.
A method for abstract art enthusiasts
Abstract art is made up of visual elements where every aspect, from color to texture, influences the emotion of the work. A poorly prepared canvas can spoil the desired effect and distract the viewer. For those creating works on social or introspective themes, a well-prepared canvas ensures careful presentation and total immersion in the painting.
A useful technique for art students
For a beginning artist or art student, knowing how to prepare a canvas is an essential step. It goes beyond technique; it’s a key phase in understanding the medium and mastering the support. Knowing how René Mayer uses technical innovations in abstract art can directly benefit their own artistic practice.
Steps to a perfect canvas
- Preparing the frame and cutting the canvas
Place the stretcher frame on the canvas and measure the necessary margins before cutting carefully. You need to leave enough material for a good fold. - Tensioning the canvas
Fasten the canvas to the center of each frame bar with a stapler, then work outwards to ensure even tension. - Precise corner folding
Fold the canvas into two 45-degree flaps to create a clean corner without excess material. - Fixing the first flap
Use a small metal plate to hold the bottom flap against the frame and secure it with a hammer. - Overlaying and securing the second flap
Gently stretch the top flap over the first and apply it to the frame for a neat finish. - Final result
Once attached, the flaps form two very thin layers, ensuring a clean, professional finish with no visible creases.
Take a look at this 6-step video: https:
https://youtu.be/mvtngiUQSfM?feature=shared
This method can help many artists and students achieve a better result. Whether you’re exhibiting in a contemporary Swiss art gallery or improving your artistic skills, this technique guarantees a canvas that’s ready and in good condition.
Creating a Desire for Artistic Perfection
In modern Swiss art, perfection isn’t just seen in the appearance of a work. It covers every stage of creation, from the preparation of the material to the smallest finishing touches. René Mayer puts this requirement at the heart of his work, seeing art as a personal expression and a craftsman’s trade.
Every detail must be mastered with care, a state of mind he maintains in both design and execution. This attention to detail appeals to abstract art enthusiasts looking for works that convey social, environmental or introspective messages. It also appeals to art students keen to understand how an artist marries technical innovation with a conceptual approach.
The union of rigor and creativity
René Mayer believes that the quality of a work depends on attention to every element. He says this requires a great deal of patience, but is crucial to realizing his vision. He can spend months preparing a work before creating it. For him, this phase of reflection and planning is as important as the creation itself.
In his Mutations furtives series, this rigor led to the development of innovative tools and techniques. To organize his work, he created modular templates that help him place casino cards precisely on the canvas. He also developed a coloring system to ensure visual harmony throughout the work.
Unlike some artists who see technical constraints as obstacles, René Mayer believes they stimulate his creativity. He says that art should not be limited to emotion or intuition, but should be based on a strict methodology. He describes himself as a craftsman, committed to quality work and meticulous finishing.
A method that combines precision and spontaneity
His process is based on meticulous organization. He begins by creating a canvas with a pattern based on a precise grid of numerous casino cards. This framework gives him a clear vision of the structure and dynamism of the work. Once this foundation has been established, he can explore variations in color and orientation of the elements, while maintaining a controlled balance. This long-term approach doesn’t prevent him from always being on the lookout for surprises. He believes that art should remain a space for experimentation, where artists can surprise themselves. This need for self-discovery encourages him to go beyond his limits and innovate in his methods.
Craftsmanship at the service of the message
Technical rigor is not an end in itself, but rather a means of conveying a message. For René Mayer, art is more than just the surface of a canvas. Every choice made beforehand, every type of material and every technical adjustment adds to the depth of the work. He likes the idea of eliciting a reaction from the viewer, encouraging them to leave their comfort zone and think differently.
In a fast-paced world, his approach emphasizes that art requires time, contemplation and total commitment. For art students, he represents a strong example of discipline and perseverance. For lovers of abstract art, it guarantees a work in which every detail is carefully thought out, and the quality of execution reinforces the message.
This balance between rigor and artistry makes René Mayer an important figure in Swiss contemporary art. His work illustrates how technique and passion can combine to create unique pieces, where perfection is not an obligation, but an inspiration…
Craft techniques in 20th-century abstract art: between precision and creative freedom
Abstract art in the 20th century underwent significant changes, both in terms of forms and ideas, and in the methods used by artists. Some favored improvisation and experimentation, while others maintained strict traditional craftsmanship, emphasizing the importance of technical mastery in their approach. This article examines the key craft techniques used by 20th-century abstract painters and discusses their role in the modern vision of art.
Artisanal foundations in abstract art
Although abstract art is often perceived as a break with tradition, it is based on demanding techniques inherited from centuries of artistic know-how.
Working with materials and supports
Far from being just a choice of style, the support for an abstract work is important to the final result. Artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian used well-prepared canvases, with carefully controlled primer and texture for optimum color absorption. Others, like Mark Rothko, chose particular surfaces to create vivid effects and remarkable depth of color…
Pigment and color research
Abstraction in the 20th century saw the emergence of a particular focus on pigments and their application. Yves Klein, for example, developed his famous IKB (International Klein Blue), a unique tint obtained using a specific emulsion that fixed the pigment while preserving its intensity. Numerous artists also experimented with mixtures of binders and mediums to play with the transparency, matte or brilliance of paint.
Composition and construction techniques
Although abstraction is often associated with improvisation, some artists used an almost mathematical approach to create their works. Josef Albers, with his Homage to the Square series, demonstrated geometric precision in the way he layered colors. Similarly, Kazimir Malevich, one of the first to develop Suprematism, organized his compositions in a strict manner, giving his works a sense of harmony.
Craftsmanship and spontaneity: a subtle balance
Despite this technical rigor, abstract art has never ceased to explore spontaneous expression and instinctive gesture.
Action painting and gesture
With the rise of Abstract Expressionism, artists such as Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline highlighted the importance of movement and bodily energy in painting. Their method appeared different from classical techniques, but remained demanding: the flexibility of gestures and the handling of chance demanded a mastery of materials and surface dynamics.
The tension between craft and concept
Since the 1960s, movements such as Minimalism and Conceptual Art have sought to reduce the importance of the handmade gesture. For artists such as Sol LeWitt, the idea was more important than the realization, often left to assistants or made according to specific guidelines. This raised the question: do technique and craft still count in modern abstract art?
FAQ: Is craft still compatible with contemporary art?
Does contemporary art still emphasize precision craftsmanship?
Today’s contemporary art focuses on the concept, where the idea is often more important than the realization. Many artists entrust the creation of their works to workshops or employ modern technologies, thus reducing manual labor. However, this has not completely eliminated craftsmanship. Some modern abstract painters still defend technical precision, believing that creation also requires a mastery of gestures and materials.
Can abstract art exist without craftsmanship?
Abstraction is based on total freedom of interpretation, and this freedom includes the way in which the work is produced. Some artists favor an intuitive, experimental approach, while others remain attached to traditional methods of preparing supports, choosing pigments and structuring compositions. In all cases, the final result is influenced by the degree of control exercised by the artist over his or her medium.
Do art lovers still value artisanal excellence?
There are two aspects to the art market. On the one hand, certain conceptual works, created in series or with little intervention by the artist, sell for high prices and gain a great deal of visibility. On the other hand, a public of collectors and contemporary art lovers, both Swiss and international, continues to value the craftsmanship and quality of creation. The quest for a meticulous finish, elaborate texture and mastery of color remains an essential point for many lovers of abstract art…
Conclusion: A dialogue between tradition and modernity
Abstract art of the 20th century navigated between strict technique and free experimentation, between manual precision and rejection of rules. This duality is still present today: even if conceptual art and modern technologies have changed the way people create, many artists still hold on to a sense of craftsmanship. The quality of workmanship and the mastery of materials remain essential aspects of artistic identity, constantly in tune with today’s evolutions.
In the final analysis, precision craftsmanship is not opposed to contemporary abstract art. It is one method among others, an artistic choice that can enrich a work and give it greater depth. In a world where immediacy is often valued, some artists still prefer the long view, the careful gesture and attention to detail as a form of resistance against transience…
René Mayer: A craftsman’s approach to 21st-century abstract art
In today’s artistic landscape, where we often see speed, conceptual works and delegation, René Mayer stands out. He follows a tradition that values craftsmanship, quality and know-how, while integrating his work with modern issues and styles.
Instead of following many abstract artists who prefer to experiment in the moment, René Mayer uses a method where every phase of creation is planned in advance. Like 20th-century painters such as Josef Albers and Mark Rothko, he believes that creating a work requires both artistic intent and the technical rigor that gives it shape.
An artist who pushes the limits of technique
What sets René Mayer apart from current trends in contemporary art is the way he creates. He doesn’t just use existing tools: he creates them. For his Mutations furtives series, he devised modular templates and a precise positioning system to attach casino cards to his canvases, establishing a visual structure that illustrates his vision of chance and control.
This work, which could be done more quickly with digital means, is deliberately done by hand, with a patience akin to that of craftsmen. Each plug is precisely positioned and oriented, each color is carefully applied, each element is assembled in balance. This level of detail and meticulousness is uncommon in modern abstract art, where spontaneity and ease are often emphasized…
An approach in dialogue with the times
Far from being a nostalgic artist seeking to reproduce the techniques of the past, René Mayer’s work is rooted in modern reflections on materiality, chance and perception. His works question how our gaze adapts to structures, how recurring visual elements can create a tension between order and chaos.
In this sense, he addresses pertinent themes concerning the link between man and his environment, and the effect of everyday actions. Each choice can affect a whole, whether in art or society. His technical approach to abstract art is not simply a feat of skill, but also aims to convey a message and encourage reflection on our times.
The importance of craftsmanship in art today
In a world where conceptual art and mass production often dominate, René Mayer’s craftsmanship is a form of resistance. He shows that modern abstract art can still be a place where precision of gesture and depth of execution matter.
For those who appreciate abstract art, his work gives a good option to more conceptual works that ignore the material aspect. For art students, he is a model of rigor and perseverance, proving that artistic innovation does not always require a complete break with past techniques, but can also involve their transformation and reinterpretation.
In this way, René Mayer is an artist who unites tradition and modernity, proving that artisanal precision and conceptual depth can coexist and mutually enrich each other. In an age when art is constantly seeking to renew itself, he reminds us that time, attention to detail and engagement with materials are essential values, capable of creating powerful, enduring works.
