Choosing a Board for Painting
The term “board” refers to a flat support surface on which a painting is executed. There are many different types of boards available, and each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For those who crayon de couleur abstrait a more rigid surface, a hardboard or wood panel is an excellent choice. The rigidity of the support helps to prevent cracking in oil paint, and many of the finest paintings from the past have been painted on panels. Wood panels are also lightweight and very easy to transport, making them ideal for travelling or shipping to galleries.
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When using a panel, it is advisable to sand the board lightly to remove any splinters and unevenness. It is also a good idea to coat the entire surface with gesso primer. This is to help the paint grip onto the surface, and it will also protect the support from environmental contamination and humidity fluctuations. The moisture permeability of the hardboard can be reduced by coating the surface with a vapour barrier film such as MarvelSeal or a similar product.
For those who want the look of canvas but are not ready to splurge on traditional stretched linen, there are canvas boards available which feature a covering of 11-ounce lead-primed linen that is glued to a stiff backing such as medium-density fiberboard or MDF. These are very versatile and can be used with any technique or style. They are relatively inexpensive and can be found at most art supplies stores.