Choosing My Canvas: Why Format Matters When Painting People and Places

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the size and shape of my paintings—not just what feels good in the hand or looks right on the wall, but also what’s practical when it comes to framing, storage, and long-term consistency.

Right now, most of my recent work has been in a 12″x12″ square format. It’s a size that’s easy to manage: small enough to store and ship without worry, and large enough to allow for expressive detail. It’s also a format that makes framing simple. I’ve found frames that work beautifully with this size, especially for the portraits I’m doing of people from Northern New Mexico.

But I’ve started to wonder—should I occasionally introduce more variation?

I’ve been considering two alternatives:

• 12″x9″ — A classic rectangular format, slightly smaller than the square, great for more intimate portraits or moody landscapes.
• 12″x16″ — A larger rectangle that gives room for broader brushwork, wider vistas, or more narrative portraits.

Both sizes are tempting. The 12″x9″ feels close to a sketchbook page—perfect for capturing someone’s face with minimal background. The 12″x16″ offers room to breathe, especially for landscapes or more complex compositions. But with both formats, I have to think about frames.

The truth is: framing is no small matter. It adds cost, weight, and logistical complexity to every painting. The more sizes I use, the more difficult it becomes to keep things unified when showing or selling work—especially when you want to maintain a consistent aesthetic.

So I’m doing some research. I’m hunting down quality frames that fit these dimensions and asking myself some honest questions:

• Can I find frames in these sizes that match the visual feel I want?
• Will the added size create too much variance when displayed next to my 12″x12″ paintings?
• Do these dimensions help tell the story better—or just differently?

For now, I plan to keep the 12″x12″ as my core format. It’s working. It’s efficient. And it gives my body of work a rhythm—like a series of poems all written in the same meter. That doesn’t mean I won’t go bigger when a piece demands it. I will. But I’m trying to be intentional about when and how I break from that square.

Ultimately, the size of the canvas isn’t just about what fits in a frame. It’s about what fits the story—and what makes it easier for me to keep painting every day.

Have any of you artists out there found a favorite frame size or format that just works? Let me know what helps you stay consistent (without losing inspiration).

Looks like my current frame supplier provides both dimensions. Sweet!