Since 1970, the Narozni Family in Brittany, France has been Crafting Premium, Museum Grade Artists Linen.
So what makes Artfix special?
For Artfix, every part of the process is essential; from sourcing the finest Belgian linen and museum-grade polyester, to mixing and applying their ultra-unique oil and universal primers, and allowing the surface the optimal curing time before sending their rolls out around the world.
The Linen
Available in a wide array of surfaces, from the finest (portrait style) weave to the most textural (mural style) weave.
*There is a method to uncoding the names, which I will explain a bit later.
The Sizing
Surface sizing is applied to the linen, polyester or canvas and allowed to dry, then a second coat is applied and allowed time to dry before priming. The sizing used is a specially formulated acrylic sizing. Acrylic sizing is used to eliminate many of the challenges that traditional hide or rabbit skin glue can have. This ensures that the fibers have a clear, archival, and flexible coating to protect them. Also that will remain resistant to atmospheric changes.
The Priming
Artfix is widely known for its proprietary oil primed surfaces, which are made without the use of lead pigment. However, they give the feel, strength, adhesion, and luminosity of traditional white lead primer, but without the toxicity.
This oil priming is not mixed with any drying agents or alkyds, and each layer must be allowed to dry naturally. Once all layers have been applied completely by hand, the roll is left to cure before shipping.
As with all oil primed surfaces, this must only be used for oil media, and will not accept water media such as acrylic.
The proprietary “universal” primer is of equal quality to the oil primer. It is made to have many of the same characteristics as the oil primed surface, but allows for the artist to use oil-based or acrylic-based materials.
- Storage Tip – ArtFix does recommend storing the roll in its cardboard tube vertically. Once the artist has cut what they need, put it back into the tube and store it again vertically.
- Handling Tip – When removed from the tube, handle the linen with caution (especially when handling the portrait grade linen).
**Decoding ArtFix
Let’s Use our world-famous ArtFix L64C Linen as our first example.
- Example 1: L64C
- L = Linen
- 6 = The Linen Type
- 4 = Number of Priming Coats
- C = Oil Primed
- Example 2: P72U
- P = Polyester
- 7 = Polyester type
- 2 = Number of Priming Coats
- U = Universal Primer (Acrylic Primed)
- Example 3: L22U
- L = Linen
- 2 = Linen Type
- 2 = Number of Priming Coats
- U = Universal Primer (Acrylic Primed)
