Surfaces

Canvas

Stretched cotton canvas has been the most common support for oils since the 17th century. The weave of the cloth combined with the spring of the stretched material are the features which maintain its popularity.

Canvas board

Canvas boards have traditionally been used for sketching outdoors. Boards take up less room and are less easily damaged than stretched canvases. Winsor boards are made from a substantial board and high quality cloth, making them superior in quality to coated sketching boards. Finished paintings on boards can be easier and cheaper to frame than canvases.

Papers

Paper is popular for sketching in oil and also liked by professionals for its texture and drag. Contrary to hearsay advice, using paper is acceptable for oil painting. It is recommended however that good quality heavy water colour paper is used, thinly primed with Acrylic Gesso Primer.

Priming canvas and Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)

By preparing your own surfaces you can choose any dimensions or shapes you like, even circular, and many artists enjoy the preparation of their materials. Priming hardboard or MDF (masonite types) for painting is  inexpensive and this in itself can encourage more painting. Primers control the texture, absorbency and colour of your support.