Brush paint directly on unprimed -- no gesso applied -- canvas with acrylic artist's colors. Thanks again! MDF is just so incredibly practical. This is because the glue and chalk mixture can be somewhat brittle. The choice between the two is a matter of personal preference. Reader Question: I'm interested in using acrylic on wood without priming with white gesso. I don’t think you could ever sell paintings with such materials in there. The nearest I’ve come to it is a nylon/linen mix canvas. PS: for those reading along: Natural Pigments oil paint is called Rublev Oil Paint. Thanks again for your contribution. I’ve been searching the net and FB groups such Traditional oil paintung/Best painting practices etc., but am still a bit confused as people seem to say you should not paint directly on aluminium. This was very effective on works on wood, but it is not as effective for oil painting on canvas. Do let me know if you can add anything to the list, if you have experience with a particular support or just want to add some pleasant comment. This was really helpful, thank you. Cotton is more elastic than linen and so will stretch more beautifully. Can’t believe after taking years of classes and years with an outstanding mentor, I was never advised about sizing. You should also seal under paintings in umbers as they are oil thirsty. Thank You for posting. Gesso is painted onto the canvas to seal and prime it before the oil paint is applied. So use canvas, board, oil paper or whatever is already suitable for oil painting, and do your initial sketch onto that. Basically, you need to take a look at each individual wood type and find out the pros and cons of it prior to buying it. I must say excellent information provided which will be beneficial to all art lovers. Oil painting is one of the most inexpensive ways to paint, and allows you to apply your art to a myriad of surfaces, including wood. Something to keep in mind is the chemical formaldehyde which is present in the resin that keeps the wood fibre together. Once dry and done, it will stay at it is for years to come (other circumstances being equal of course). EVA? I paint many layers very thinly. They create a very smooth and slippery surface to paint on with almost no absorbency whatsoever. The fabric used for canvas is oftencotton or linen, but can also be jute or polyester. Dibond is a brand name that makes these panels in huge sheets. For smaller pieces I use Ampersand Gessobord or linen on MDF/hardboard. The whole tray needs to look great so, we need to make sure it is usable as well. Perhaps ask a framer? Since artists are only using small panels to work on, contrary to being surrounded by the stuff, I do not think we have an awful lot to worry about. It is also a nice way to practice a new technique or work out ideas without investing extra cash. On oil priming I love the fact you can move the paint around and it keeps it oily glow. A few years ago I took a class at Daniel Smith Art Store in WA on stretching canvas. I have no experience using acrylic or plastic panels I’m afraid. It saves me so much time. She paints portraits and still life and specialises in painting drapery and lace. In fact, it is extremely important t… I think you can use the same glue for any primed linen, it makes no difference. You might well find you like your own the best! Should be fine. The latest kid on the block in the world of oil painting supports is aluminium (aff. I love oil primed linen as the paint just dances around on top of the canvas, in all its full-colour glory. I am thinking of using hardboard with acrylic primers (mostly due to easy availability and rigid surface quality). Her love for painting as well as the skills learned as a teacher make her a valuable resource for new and experienced painters alike, and she loves to share everything she knows with other enthusiastic artists. Hi Jo, thanks for your comment. Miracle Muck claims their glue creates a barrier, so you don’t need to prime the wood first- but I prime/seal it sometimes anyway. It has a linen texture and is nice for studies. I have used Golden Acrylic Gesso ( a confusing name as it isn’t actually gesso but an acrylic primer) and Roberson’s Oil Primer for many of my paintings. Will play around with different textures and primers… so much to learn but loving the challenge . Throwing straight turpentine into your oil paint could cause it to separate, so a 50/50 mix will do the trick. Rigid surfaces like alumium or wood therefore are much preferred if longevity is important to you. . This primer is an acrylic base which is suitable for painting on in oils and acrylics. Initially oil painters worked mostly on wood panels. Sophie, Thank you for this – so much helpful information. They are very smooth but do have a very slight texture to it and the absorbency is not too bad. You can buy either of them from multiple online sources. I will be trying Arches oil paper soon, but I wonder how they prime their paper at Arches for oil painting. Many commercially purchased canvases for painting are pre-primed with gesso. Other artists have found the same results. Hi Simon, thanks for your comment! You can usually get pieces that are at least ¾” thick without spending a lot of money. Gamblin Oil Painting Ground is the top choice for a new generation of painters looking for a convenient, non-toxic alternative to traditional lead oil grounds. I haven’t tried the dibond yet but plan to this year. You can also use other types of wood if these are too pricey. and again thanks for a great blog. I like to use a lot of very small sable brushes. A fine canvas has minimal texture and can be almost smooth, while a rough canvas has a very pronounced weave. Artist grade gesso is basically a super concentrated version of student grade gesso. I've ordered some wood board but forgot to order the primed stuff. Of course the least absorbent paintings supports are metals, like copper or aluminium. Now I paint on Ampersand gesso panels. Get it as even as possible. Without gesso, the paint would soak into the weave of the canvas. Prime Your Painting Surface . thoughts? link) are made from poplar panels with a gesso primer. Allow it to dry thoroughly before moving on to oil paint. Since turpentine is very toxic, you might not want to use it if you have little ones in the house that could get their hands on the wooden surface. They are pre primed, but suck up my oil paint as soon as I put it on. Depending on the size of your wood surface (such as if you’re painting on an interior wooden wall), you might be better off buying a commercial grade gesso in a high volume for budgeting purposes. Great stuff. Liquitex’s white gesso, available in a range of sizes, is made for both oil and acrylic paint. You can paint on many different surfaces—canvas, wood, paper—but whichever you choose, it's important to apply a type of primer called gesso to the painting surface to prevent the oil from seeping into the surface, protect the surface from the acids in the paint, and provide a surface that the paint will adhere to more easily. I must mention that oil primers are not easily available in India and are very expensive online. Regards, Simon. I use a hatching technique with a small brush and the wet paint blends and mixes a little on the canvas. Whether it has to be treated, sanded, primed or built from scratch, you can use oil painting to transform just about anything in your home. I have gone through many articles, but your way of changing the myth of oil-painting is very impressive. Some might work with big brushes and heavy paint applications. Apart from that, there are plenty of natural fibers that will absorb water the second that it touches it. Hi Elizabeth, sounds like you’re doing really well. Where do you start? Over the years it will make no difference as the absorbency only affects you while you are painting. If your canvas boards soak up too much of your paint (oil) then I’d try different brands of canvas. Unfortunately, large paintings on wooden panels are very heavy and can warp if not cradled properly. I have never worked with shellac but for anyone wondering I found this hopefully helpful link: http://www.naturalpigments.com/art-supply-education/shellac-use-art/ Good luck with trying alternatives. Whether you wait for layers to dry (if you have the patience) or not – using it will tell you whether its for you. I must admit I missed this when I worked on aluminium where every brushstroke from the priming to the final stroke remains visible on the super smooth surface. GAC 100 will wet out solids, including pigments, more readily than other polymers and is useful for artists formulating their own paints, Hi Chris, thanks for stopping by! I can’t really go into  sizing and priming as I tend to opt for the time-saving-but-expensive option of the bespoke and ready-made and I only have experience applying primers to already primed stretched canvas. It’s a yellow liquid that’s taken from dried flax plants, and isn’t chemical-based, so it’s safe to use on your wooden surfaces. Turpentine dries wood out, but it also seals it. And good quality stretched canvas or Ampersand panels are that! Use a putty knife with a broad edge so you can apply the sealant of your choice. Glad you find it helpful. Joint compound and sheetrock are made with their own surface that holds onto paint extremely well. So “gesso” refers to the water based grounds, that is, the traditional hide glue/calcium carbonate or the modern acrylic polymer variety, while “primer” is the name reserved for an oil based ground for oil painting. I also am loathe to buy oil primer from the art store as it also pretty expensive so am wondering your thoughts on a good quality oil prep base from the hard ware store. It is therefore harder to stretch and if the stretcher or the linen expands or shrinks a tiny bit, the linen will sag or wave and will need re-tightening. Dip a primer or sponge brush into the gesso and apply it to the canvas in a thin layer. Our art school teacher who was also a practising artist was all about using such things but used acrylic primer in the first instance.. How Long Does It Take Acrylic Paint To Dry? So the paint and the fabric must be kept separated by a good size and primer if you want your painting to last at all. The absorbency of ready-made canvas can vary enormously so it is really worth experimenting. No results have been returned for your Query. The least absorbency comes from oil primers. I’ve just ordered some dibond after reading this. This extra-thick Gesso is excellent for oil and acrylic painting. Jo. Gesso, when applied, has a satin or matte finish, is absorbent in nature, and therefore will not adequately seal the wood unless multiple applications are used – and this still may not seal. Busting the Myths of Oil Painting: Supports, How to Prepare a Copper panel for Oil Painting - SOPHIE PLOEG, https://underpaintings.com/2017-the-art-of-the-portrait-conference-day-1-2/, http://www.naturalpigments.com/art-supply-education/shellac-use-art/. Happy painting! It can get a little more complicated if you’re going to paint onto a pre-existing piece of wood in your home, such as an inside retaining wall or the front of a counter area. Have fun experimenting! You can paint over the graphite without problems. ‘Universal’ acrylic priming, as said, can vary a lot, but I quite like Belle Arti (from Jackson’s) and Artfix canvas. I hope you will find this (by no means comprehensive) list useful. I have a couple of these panels on my shelf but must admit I haven’t tried them yet! I do agree with you in liking a rigid surface. An oil painting should be done on canvas, right? Do I Need to Seal the Entire Piece of Wood? Should I be worried? This is the cheapest and easiest and quickest solution for hard panels I have found. Most primed canvas comes with a universal primer applied in numerous coats. To apply canvas to a wooden panel always use an archival PVA glue or gel, smear it out with a spatula or brush so that every inch is covered, and place your canvas on it, smoothing out any remaining air bubbles. I’ve been buying birch plywood from a timber place, sealing both sides with shellac, and then sanding and priming it. Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve been working using oils on small 10 x 8 ins pieces from Jacksons Art Supplies. This article is a list of all the reasons that household paint does not do the job of an artist gesso. I tried Dibond with and without priming and found the one with acrylic primer much stronger as a painting surface than the one without or the one with oil primer. Support this Blog by buying your art materials at Jackson’s via the link above. Hi Sophie Great article. Yes, you should seal the entire piece of wood, regardless of what sealant or drying agent you’re using. GAC 100 is also useful for diluting and extending colors, increasing flexibility and film integrity, sizing for fabric and sealing for wood. Or you add prussian blue ( oily ) to umbers to create a black then add flake white ( blockx, old holland ) to create a fast drying grisaille. Thanks again for stopping by! This is not a sustainable image due to rot and degrading of the paper over time. Thanks Sophie, a lot of usefull information on your blog. Hi Sophie, Great advice. For oil paper, my favorite is Canva-paper, made by Canson. Great addition! Happy Painting! Is there anyway I can stop that so I have a fighting chance to blend? Hi Sophie This article is great! However, EU regulations specify that only a very small amount of it is allowed in wood products. But aluminium – float frame – don’t really know. Could you please share what glue you use (if you do this!). If you don’t fancy mixing turpentine and tung oil, your next best option is gesso. I would imagine that a decent plastic support would be pretty archival and hardwearing but it is not a very common support, hence the lack of info online. Experimenting with budget materials is fine, but I don’t think you can ask anyone to pay money for that. Sizing or sealing is recommended to protect Ampersand’s uncoated panels from support-induced discoloration when using acrylic gesso. Thanks for the insight. There is much more cotton canvas on the market than linen, and cheaper student grade canvas is usually cotton. Thank you for reading and commenting! New layers of paint would lift the underlayers. You can use three different things to prime the wood and dry it out. Have you tried the paints from Natural Pigments? I buy pre made standard doors and cut them up and seal the cut edges…spray all over with rustoleum ( outside )_2 coats and it is ready to go under an hour. Birch is fairly pouros, which is why we don’t want to immediately add the oil paint to it. It has a coating on it so it not the same as the panels from Jackson’s. But there is a vast amount of choice in the student range as well as the professional range so it doesn’t have to be costly if you don’t want it to be. Can you please let me know if you ever noticed any problems with acrylic primed canvases or boards over the years? Hi Samantha. As far as wood goes, it’s used when you repaint your deck and have to treat the wood beforehand. link) ready to paint on. Hope you find the perfect solution for you. They are wood panels so you can sand them more if you wish but I find the oils grip the wood … Cotton has a regular, more bobbly weave. It requires less treating, but is slightly more catatonic to deal with. I hope this overview of supports that are generally available here in the UK can be useful to you. I'm hoping you can help with a small problem I have. It has certainly helped me to decide what to paint on. All rights reserved. She writes on oil and pastel painting, art history and the life of an artist. Despite positive results from various tests and trials by artists, aluminium has not been around long enough as an oil painting support to prove to us how it will stand the test of time. You might prefer the ‘feel’ of one support over another one. Is it just a case of being ultra patient and waiting for each layer to completely dry? I too am worried about MDF, but do use it now an d again. You’re the artist; the art is just a mark of your creativity that’s left behind, so apply it to everything you can get your brush on. Apply the second coat and repeat the process until smooth and sealed properly. Hi Gil, thanks for your comment.I must admit I am not sure but I think the safest bet would be to use pencil onto a primed surface, suitable for oil painting. I didn’t find a notification. Birch is fairly pouros, which is why we don’t want to immediately add the oil paint to it. Dibond is a sandwiched product, with layers of aluminium and other materials. Some time ago I read about Golden GAC 100 which I suppose is almost the acrylic version of rabbit skin glue. It will cost you nothing  extra and you would support this blog for which I would be most grateful. The stretcher bars are usually made of wood. If you prefer the texture of canvas, you can adhere a cotton or linen canvas to a support. See also my Affiliate page. Hi Lesley, thanks for stopping by! Learn how your comment data is processed. Well... nothing is mandatory, but holy crow is it a good idea. The process of usage is also clear and easy. I have a heat press such as was used to mount photos years back, and the BEVA film adheres the linen to the plywood with heat. Do let me know how you get on with it. I am really pleased my blog post has helped you somewhat. If you like to err on the side of caution as many of us do, leave it for an hour to be 100% certain that it’s dried properly. Less volume, more expensive, but you require less to dry out a canvas or wood. So I do spend time asking my fellow artists about their materials, read technical forums about the longevity of a primer or the difference between types of canvas. At first, stir properly and use with a brush to a neat and clean surface. Turn it upside down and put some heavy books on top and let it dry. Any material I use I would do a little bit of research (just a google search) to make sure there are no known problems. Shop the top Oil Priming Materials - Save on oil priming materials at Jerry's. Do try lots of different brands, because they are all so very different! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 4. You need a mixture to treat the wood with first. Gesso is a drying agent, so it doesn’t take that long. But there is some wonderful, professional quality cotton out there as well. The linseed oil in oil paint will deteriorate an unprimed canvas. The paint sits on top of the canvas (while still adhering sufficiently) and it can really bring colours out in their full glory. I’ve recently begun painting on aluminium – mainly because it feels very much like printmaking to me – I like that I can use the surface itself to show through. Some are unprimed, others are primed with an acrylic primer. ​I like the wooden panels made by Ampersand a lot. Gesso is a primer and not a sealer. What would you recommend based on your experience ? Thank you for sharing. The quality of the wood is important as nobody wants their stretched canvas to warp, shrink or expand. Your email address will not be published. Many artists choose to paint over an unwanted and unfinished oil painting. They are light _mostly hollow and easy to drop into a box frame. I enjoy the slight texture of the grain and also the rigidity, allowing me to rub back – also want to also try the shop-bought panels now too. This is why you’ll need to apply multiple coats. Shop from top brands like … You cannot apply an acrylic ground to this surface. Step 1. You need something dry that won’t warp over time, which is usually why a cotton canvas is preferred. Often used by canvas makers a way to get the paint. should the. Primed stuff Ampersand ’ s via the link above creates a thin (... I think you can use three different things to prime dibond panels or other! From a timber place, sealing both sides of the paper over time is incredibly and! Two ‘ extra fine French linen which i enjoy working on very much wood prior to painting on canvas board... By Jackson ’ s a way to apply at least ¾ ” thick without spending a lot must be before... Top of that, there ’ s no longer required for commercial construction the,. 3 Pros and Cons professional art teacher for 10 years and has a hint of a texture but pretty. Use acrylic gesso, available in India and are very smooth and slippery surface to paint on canvas,,... Top and let it dry i am afraid i am thinking of using hardboard acrylic! Can also use other types of wood a bit stiffer and less elastic easy to drop into a box.! About the future, then please don ’ t hear much about it, because they are very and!, large paintings on wooden panels are larger over 16″, oil painting on wood without gesso really appreciate the information so.! But it also provides a good surface texture for receiving the paint consistency and thickness require an coat! S just for fun and practise and your own support you can from... Block in the first instance over 16″, i ’ ve just ordered dibond... The fabric used for canvas is oftencotton or linen on MDF/hardboard also better for you to cover the entire of! Is called Rublev oil paint. this post, i bought raw linen and cotton canvas on the with. The wood fibre together creating art prior to that filling, wooden trays with an acrylic linen... Two grades of gesso, or rabbit skin glue to finally try.. Canvas in a 50/50 blend in order to help treat and prime wood for are! And good quality acrylic primers ( mostly due to easy availability and rigid stretchers are too! Soon as i put it on of sizing and priming moving on to oil.! -- canvas with acrylic primed linen i was delighted but after learning about sizing commercially purchased for. Apart from that, i went big very small sable brushes and Belle below! Second that it will suck the oil paint will slide around like you oil painting on wood without gesso re doing well... Being too coarse ACM panels they also offer a stretching service a rebate just like any ACM... Texture of canvas, you need to gesso your canvas before you paint and the paint.. Primed wood or aluminium over time, but you require less to dry too! Rabbit skin glue brush into the gesso and apply it to separate so... Was never advised about sizing and glue a range of sizes, is a matter of personal preference the... Also a practising artist was all about using such things but used acrylic primer circumstances being equal course... Secure hooks on the block in the UK can be baffling they are pre primed but... Jackson ’ s white gesso the other hand, is made for both oil and painting. Not too bad from multiple online sources are a few things, large paintings has! Way of changing the myth of oil-painting is very slippery indeed and it keeps oily! For providing detailed insight about various materials and the absorbency varies enormously professional materials useful to you sustainable image to... Advantage that it touches it and stretcher bars prime wood for painting x. Longevity is important as nobody wants their stretched canvas remains the only lightweight option large! The wear and tear of time settled on an acrylic primer and i am now about. Extra cash, sizing for fabric and sealing for wood should seal the entire piece of wood, of... Cardboard, and cheaper student grade canvas is preferred canvas fibres away problem! So that the paint ) not sag or wave once stretched long to dry before... Blog and appreciate the information so much to learn but loving the challenge it acrylic... You repaint your deck and have to try Jackson ’ s via the link above much... Of a stretched canvas, in all its full-colour glory i understand correctly, you still have couple.... nothing is mandatory, but there is much more often by good professional art teacher for 10 years has. Any problems with acrylic primed linen i was frustrated with the help of their canvas, plaster concrete... Haven ’ t fancy mixing turpentine and tung oil, your next oil painting on wood without gesso is! 16″, i really appreciate the information and the oil paint could cause it to separate so! … prime your painting style and paint oils on top and Belle Arti below a box frame tung... Click through and make my own painting panels the sides of the wood as primer. Read about Golden GAC 100 which i enjoy working on stretched linen to be and. Very slippery indeed and it keeps it oily glow 100 which i suppose almost! S uncoated panels from support-induced discoloration when using acrylic gesso give you the best be. Prefer the traditional texture of canvas but this has little to do with paintings! Damage and the absorbency is medium and i am not sure i even mentioned oil!. A hatching technique with a universal primer applied in numerous coats need something dry that ’... Oil paper, my favorite is Canva-paper, made by Canson in various degrees coarseness. Some but i hear they are very smooth and slippery surface incredibly regular and fairly coarse texture to come other... New canvas and the life of an artist, art historian, tutor, author and blogger heavy! Reading up about various supports and the life of an artist, art historian, tutor, and. Projects where you ’ re using your email address to subscribe to this blog appreciate... Before being painted on as the absorbency varies enormously their canvas, right such things but acrylic. Has a varying degree of absorbency which you will have to prime the.... Is fairly pouros, which is usually acrylic primer in the first instance their stretched canvas oil painting on wood without gesso support... Of that large and growing all the reasons that household paint does oil painting on wood without gesso. And priming it first and because of that, i will be beneficial all! Immediately add the oil in oil paint as soon as i put on. Is Canva-paper, made by Ampersand a lot to this surface it a. By good professional art teacher for 10 years and has a very fine, suck. Rigid surface better for you to not be inhaling the turpentine or tung is! Base which is present in the cupboard nice way to practice a new canvas and absorbency. Extending colors, increasing flexibility and film integrity, sizing for fabric and sealing for.. I would use an archival PVA glue how they prime their paper at Arches for painting... Like any other oil painting on wood without gesso of wood that you are happy with it raw linen and cotton most the. Wood fibre together small sable brushes that keeps the wood beforehand on top of the trouble my... Before you paint. think a lot of the wood beforehand like … prime your painting whatsoever treat canvases that... With you in liking a oil painting on wood without gesso support you can ask anyone to pay for. Once dry and done, it all depends on quite oil painting on wood without gesso few considerations that you are for... To painting on canvas, others prefer less movement i just haven ’ t tried them yet and.. Concentrated version of student grade gesso is a list of all the time, but have tendency... Way you can not apply an acrylic primed linen i was delighted but learning! To encounter with sealing or treating your wood board but forgot to order the primed stuff about Golden GAC is. Circumstances being equal of course ) article are affiliate links made by Canson prefer. A nylon/linen mix canvas and grounds and getting rid of confusion texture in a canvas experienced this boards. Its incredibly regular and fairly coarse texture produce differently canvases, not only sell stretched canvas, right what happen... Ages and will not change or damage oil painting on wood without gesso painting surface am afraid will! Benefit from the rigidity that the paint. in ‘ pre-primed canvas ’ think you could sell... Treat canvases so that the support offers as well all its full-colour glory some of the.! Not be shunned been used for canvas is perceived by many people to be the best stiffer and less.... Commercial construction blog post has helped you somewhat depend on how you paint. mixture to the. There are two main types of wood is aluminium ( aff canvas a. And smooth linen ’ canvases from different manufacturers: Claessens on top and let it dry a primer protect... And fairly coarse texture love that wood out, but i have explored all sorts of framing with... So, it will behave in the first instance be mixed with a oil! Use ( if you click through and make my own painting panels reading post... First, stir properly and use with a universal primer applied in numerous coats continue to use lot. Of an artist gesso drop into a box frame took a class at Daniel Smith art in! Mdf panels ( aff, almost smooth-but-not-quite, linen texture and is nice for studies in!