36 inch Linen Cloth Roll 5 Meter packing (3 feet by 16feet) Linen is strong and durable, and remains the preferred surface for many artists but it is expensive. It is made from the fibres of the flax plant and top quality flax is harvested mainly in Western Europe. If you want your painting to last then a linen canvas is a sound investment. The threads that make up linen, known as the warp and weft threads, weigh the same, which means they are less prone to expansion or contraction due to moisture. Linen retains its natural oils, which helps to preserve the fibre’s flexibility and stops the canvas from going brittle. It is also regarded as having a more ‘natural’ weaved finish than cotton – a variety of textures and weights are available in both rough and smooth finishes. Because of its strength linen holds up to a heavy painting hand and does not become slack as easily as cotton canvas.