A floor canvas is a painting crafted into a piece of functional art for the floor.
Most people are familiar with the term floorcloth to describe these decorative coverings. A floor canvas is a floorcloth but made with a heavier, more durable canvas that does not buckle, warp or crack.
For twenty five years, artist Karen McCall has translated a unique, historic art form into striking motifs that are as infinite as the designer's and the client's imagination. Using acrylic paints and durable finishes, McCall creates long-lasting, sturdy, fade resistant floorcloths. As an alternative to area rugs, canvases can be placed on wooden and concrete floors, kitchen tile, in entry ways, under the dining room table, in a child's playroom. The floor canvas is custom designed to fit any size and space configuration, palette, and style. Floorcloths unify the design elements of a home or business with site specific color and design.
The popularity of painted floor coverings handmade by artisans goes back to the eighteenth century. Frequently, canvases were painted to imitate the intricate designs found in expensive oriental carpets, but more often they reflected simpler geometrics, or floral and animal images. The time-honored techniques were revived in the 1970's by contemporary crafts people.
