If you want to try out painting on something instead of stretched fabric canvas, you may want to look into wood as a good option. For hundreds of years the old masters have put wood to good use as a canvas, and if prepared properly it will perform equally well as fabric canvas.
When you are searching for a wooden medium for a painting, you must look for 2 essential qualities, the first is thickness and the second is the state of the wood itself. If your plate is too thin it will bend and crack either by handling or through the weight of the paint alone. In case the wood is infested by fungus and rot, it's ruined and should not be used for painting.
After you have found an acceptable piece of wood , it is time for prepping it for painting. First of all you will have to do is to clean the surface of the wood with water and soap. Furthermore, I use spirits to kill any fungicides that may compromise the wood down the road.
Once I have cleaned the wood with soapy water, I begin to sand the entire surface in order to remove bumps and splinters and so forth. I usually go for a fine grade 120 sanding paper, and work with wood in round motions. Bear in mind to wipe of the surface of the wood using a brush and a wet wash cloth to remove dust particles.
So now you will be ready to add the 1st layer of gesso on the wood, the gesso is important to seal the wood and prevent it from soaking up water that could cause the wood to curve or even rot. I usually opt for two coats of gesso on the wood, and sand the initial layer softly prior to adding the next coat.
When the second coating of gesso has dried up, you are ready to start painting your own masterpiece on the wood.
When you are searching for a wooden medium for a painting, you must look for 2 essential qualities, the first is thickness and the second is the state of the wood itself. If your plate is too thin it will bend and crack either by handling or through the weight of the paint alone. In case the wood is infested by fungus and rot, it's ruined and should not be used for painting.
After you have found an acceptable piece of wood , it is time for prepping it for painting. First of all you will have to do is to clean the surface of the wood with water and soap. Furthermore, I use spirits to kill any fungicides that may compromise the wood down the road.
Once I have cleaned the wood with soapy water, I begin to sand the entire surface in order to remove bumps and splinters and so forth. I usually go for a fine grade 120 sanding paper, and work with wood in round motions. Bear in mind to wipe of the surface of the wood using a brush and a wet wash cloth to remove dust particles.
So now you will be ready to add the 1st layer of gesso on the wood, the gesso is important to seal the wood and prevent it from soaking up water that could cause the wood to curve or even rot. I usually opt for two coats of gesso on the wood, and sand the initial layer softly prior to adding the next coat.
When the second coating of gesso has dried up, you are ready to start painting your own masterpiece on the wood.
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