How Do I Get A Great Oval For My Rectangular Canvas?

Darrell , I would like to try painting using the oval contact paper however I cannot cut out an oval that looks like what I see when you or Bob Ross do one. Do you cut that out or can you buy precut contact paper? Thanks . Jerry

Hi Jerry, what I like to do is go down to the art store and purchase an oval canvas the size of the oval opening I’d like to have on my rectangular canvas. Then I’ll use the Oval canvas to trace an oval onto the self-adhesive contact paper. Then I cut the center out, pull off the protective paper and apply the outside contact paper to my rectangular canvas. Works great!

Two Additional Methods of Making Ovals
Hi Darrell,

I get perfect ovals two ways and both are much cheaper than buying an oval canvas.

1] buy a oval plastic place mat, and trace around it on your contact paper.

2] buy an oval mat used for framing, they come in several different sizes.

Thanks,

PJ Franklin

Wilmington, NC

Oval Dining Mats For Oval Cutouts
I saw the question from one of your students about how to do the oval cutouts which is a problem I was also having and the canvases in ovals are so expensive. I have a tip that might work. I buy the mats that one uses at the table under their plates, in different size ovals. They work great. The only problem is finding them in the sizes you want but if you keep looking it can be done and they can be saved and don’t take up much room.

Thank you again for everything. Bernice