Guide to Surfaces and Supports for Oil Painting

Preparing Canvasses, Art Boards, Wood, Card and Paper for Artists

May 13, 2009

The practice of oil painting is traditionally associated with canvasses. However, other surfaces are perfectly suited to oil painting, and are cheaper.

Any surface onto which a painting is applied is known as a “support.” Stretched canvas is the first type of support to spring to mind when oil painting is thought of. However, wood, card and even paper can be used if they have been properly sized with a gesso or primer. Such a sealant is known as a “ground.”

Ready Stretched Canvas

Canvasses can be purchased ready stretched and primed onto a wooden frame. Various textures exist, from fine to coarse texture. Some artists take pleasure in stretching and preparing their own, but this can be time consuming. Certain DIY and craft stores stock ready-stretched canvasses quite cheaply. Coarse texture canvas is suitable for expressive paintings with broad brushstrokes, like the Impressionists. Fine texture canvas is suitable for more detailed paintings.

Sizing Artists Panels

MDF, hardboard and plywood provide suitable panels for oil painting. The surface provides a firm support that canvas lacks, for more control over the paint. However, wood must be properly sized so that the oil in the paint will not be absorbed into the grain. Preparing the wood will also protect it from the rotting effect of the linseed oil, which exists in the paint. Simply sand the surface gently with fine glass paper in order to provide a key for the ground. Applying the ground will be explained in a moment.

Art Boards and Daler Boards

The large outlet, Daler Rowny famously stock Daler Boards. These are simply ready prepared thick card. Some are made with primed linen-canvas stretched and glued onto board. Card can be self-prepared at home at the fraction of the price by sizing it with a ground at home.

Oil Painting on Watercolour Paper

Specially-prepared paper for oil painting are available in sketch pads. Again, these have canvas-like textures and no preparation is required. Watercolour paper is also ideal, although it will need to be sized with a ground first. Watercolour paper is available in countless textures and grains. HP or hot pressed paper has a smooth surface. “Not” or cold pressed has a random texture. Rough watercolour paper is highly textured. The most suitable paper would consist of a thickness of 300gms or thicker.

Sizing the Surface with Acrylic Polymer Primer Ground

All sort of grounds are available in the market, such as emulsions, oil-based primers, glue size and gessoes. Some require lengthy preparations, but the easiest to use is acrylic polymer primer. This is a brilliant white fast-drying water-based paint. Two coats in a ventilated room at an hour’s interval is all that is required. A further coat might be necessary for very absorbent surfaces. Sometimes, acrylic primer is sold as “acrylic gesso primer.” It is a good guide to look for the word “acrylic” on the tin. Reading the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure satisfactory results.

Preparations for a Suitable Oil Painting Support

All sorts of surfaces can be used for oil painting. This can include ready stretched canvasses and art boards, such as Daler Boards, available within craft outlets, to preparing your own. Wood, card and even watercolour paper can be used. So long as the surface has been properly sized with a suitable primer, the oil paint will adhere to the surface without the oil absorbing into the painting support and the painting will be preserved for decades.

The copyright of the article Guide to Surfaces and Supports for Oil Painting in Painting/Drawing is owned by Rachel Wills. Permission to republish Guide to Surfaces and Supports for Oil Painting in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.