Oil Painting Panels Canvas & Primers - Which are Best?

Oil Painting Panels Canvas & Primers - Which are the Best? Do you wonder what the best surface for oil painting is? Should you use linen or cotton canvas? Is acrylic gesso or lead oil primer best for oil paint? What about ACH aluminum or MDF panels - will they stand the test of time?

Each of these materials is discussed in detail.

Since releasing this video, I have changed my stance on a few products. Gamblin's Oil Ground is excellent when I use thinner layers of one or two coats. More than that, and the surface becomes overly slick.

Gamblin's PVA size is superior to Rabbit Skin Glue and is recommended by conservators. It is not hygroscopic like RSG and does not swell and contract with moisture fluctuations. Gamblin's PVA size dries waterproof (I contacted Gamblin, and they verified it), it remains flexible, does not yellow, and you can paint directly on top of it without primer if you want.

Do not use any GAC medium under oil paints - they will cause the oil paints to crack.

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Most of my landscape painting is alla prima or wet on wet and created from plein air studies, imagination and digital reference photos.

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Happy painting!


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About the Artist:

Learn from impressionist Bill Inman as he demonstrates how to breathe life into loose abstract color masses.

For more than 30 years he has been selling his work through galleries around the country as a full time artist.

He is classically trained with 5 years of figure and head drawing from the model; advanced pastel, watercolor and oil painting from life and holds an MFA in studio painting.

He is a recipient of the Congressional Art Award, has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine and has his work in collections around the world.

These colors and techniques generally apply equally well with oil or acrylic paint.

"My goal is to help viewers feel like they are looking out a window or doorway into a beautiful scene, one that beckons to forget the world a while and simply enjoy the peace and serenity, the incredible beauty Heavenly Father has provided."

Bill and his beautiful wife Kristie have 7 children and several grandchildren. "They are my deepest source of joy and inspiration!"

Enjoy, and Happy Painting!!

[masteroilpainting]

One product I have changed my view on since this video is Gamblin's Oil Ground. I've been using it more and more. I was applying too many thick layers in the past, making it overly slick. One or two layers make a fantastic surface for oil painting. I also continue to use the lead grounds, but the oil ground is a strong contender. I greatly prefer them to an acrylic ground. I'm also more prone to gluing canvas (cotton duck or linen) to my panels in case the panel ever becomes damaged. I found out that the Home Depot 2x4 foot sheets of MDF do not contain formaldehyde. Many other MDF and wood products do, so you will want to research each panel independently. My favorite is ABS with canvas. The panel is nearly indestructible, and the canvas will prevent the possibility of plasticizers from affecting the painting. Other plastic panels, like plexiglass, are not recommended because they are brittle, especially in cold temperatures. ABS has a remarkable resilience to cold and heat - it will withstand temperatures ranging from -4 Fahrenheit to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. Actually, acrylic paints are also brittle in cold temperatures, so you don't want to let them get too cold or drop an acrylic painting when it's below freezing - that goes for acrylic gesso on canvas. In fact, you should avoid painting plein air with stretched canvas prepared with acrylic gesso. If you paint plein air (outdoors) in winter temps, use a lead or oil-primed canvas. If all you have is acrylic gesso, make sure it's on a solid panel. Also, I never use rabbit skin glue anymore. Gamblin's PVA size is superior in every way. It is waterproof (not hygroscopic like rabbit skin glue), it remains flexible, and we can paint directly on it if we don't want to use a gesso or primer. So, one or two coats on canvas, and we can paint straight onto the canvas without primer. I prefer a primer over the top since it is less absorbent and the paint glides better, but it's a great option for those avoiding the cost of primers or the solvents that many oil primers contain. It is easier to use than acrylic gesso and is safe for outdoor painting in cold temperatures. One other thing, I mentioned GAC 100 in the video: stay away from all GAC products for oil painting. Golden has changed their recommendation after extensive testing. In every test, the GAC products caused oil paints to crack. Acrylic gesso seems to be fine under oil paintings, but not many of the acrylic mediums.

[TruetoSelfART]

What a wealth of knowledge in 40 minutes!

I was glued to the edge of my seat like I was at a movie theater through this brilliant undertaking of a video because I could see how much your experience has made you articulate on the subject to help guide us on the path to being painters.

[leonwang]

The best video about painting surface on YouTube

[whig]

I am already sensitized to Formaldehyde. As a beginning painter, I started learning an important lesson after applying acrylic gesso to a few items in my kitchen a few weeks ago--having an allergic reaction within minutes. I learned from my experience and my follow-up "research" (that was surprisingly difficult to do!) that the "binder" in acrylic paints (and gesso) outgas-es Formaldehyde as it dries. The video did not mention this is any fashion. Not only is there no warning on the products themselves, there is none even on the "safety data sheets" of the acrylic paint products. The industry is well-familiar with their products, it simply chooses not to share what they know with the consumer. This is common in the food industry too, when it comes to many of the chemicals in our "food" which are there to help preserve it or to provide artificial flavor (such as artificial sweetness). It was evidently common in the tobacco industry too, so all of this shouldn't be too surprising. These big corporations have their own priorities (and consumer safety is probably only rarely first and foremost on their list). I hope this information is helpful. And I hope that it helps, in whatever small way, to create more awareness among the victims--I mean consumers. ; ) Bill Inman, I enjoyed your video, and found it informative! I just wanted to help fill the "gap" I observed (and described above).

[shawndonovan]

Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge and experience. It is extremely helpful.

[tarponjohn]

The older I get the more brittle I become ...great easy flowing chat with tons of useful info...Thanks

[laranorris]

Thank you for doing the research and making it clear for us. I’ve been so confused about this stuff. I can start painting now 🙏😁

[digitaldempsey]

Masonite does not typically have formaldehyde in it. The process uses the natural lignin in the wood to bind the fibers together under heat and pressure. Also, the Masonite company no longer makes Masonite boards. Other companies now make this product. One of the most readily available forms of hardboard is a material called Eucaboard. Available at Home Depot. The manufacturer claims on its website that the product contains no formaldehyde. I think the formaldehyde in some boards is a byproduct of the adhesives used to bind those products together. A good reason to stay away from things like MDF and particleboard.

I contacted the conservator's dept of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. They told me that they feel Masonite style hardboard is a fine support for archival paintings if suitably sealed. The sealing advice is of course is true for any wood-based panel to prevent seepage and staining of the priming layer from tannins in the wood fibers. Sealing all sides and back also helps prevent warping from moisture fluctuation in the environment.

As a side note, I personally seal my hardboard with a 50/50 mixture of Galkyd and OMS, as recommended by the folks at Gamblin oil paints. Yes, I know, this process uses toxic mineral spirits, but you have to live dangerously sometimes. Anyway, lead is toxic too, so we all pick and choose what we are comfortable working with. Just work in a space with good ventilation and use a respirator rated for organic solvents.

Just wanted to clarify that most Hardboard, using the traditional method of fabrication, contains no formaldehyde.

[jenfleming]

Great advice. So good to reassure new painters to get out there and paint. Thank you. I have subscribed.

[annsalty]

One thing I have come to observe about worrying over surfaces and archival properties, most of the marketing is meant to get us artists all worked up over it to spend more money. In reality, most of us, we are not the next Monet or Van Gogh or even Andy Warhol. But by chance our art is still out there 100 or 200 years from now, and anyone cares about it, they will find a way to preserve it. So, just paint with and on what you enjoy and can afford. I personally prefer lead primed linen, just for the feel of it. I use RSG because it creates a tight surface, and I prime my canvas myself. It will last a hundred years just fine.

[onceauponatime]

Thanks for this video. It is very educational. You are gold!

[teodygaspar]

I did my 1/4" marine plywood plus canvas cloth panel also with 50%flat and 50% semi-gloss latex
paints here in the Philippines

[rubenscasco]

It's a great opportunity for me knowing all of those you shared Sir.. I'll be watching it often to remember everything.. So grateful..

[lifewithjanie]

Great, informative video! I have been so concerned about what would be the most non-toxic oil painting surface to use that will not break down with age and your video helped me to decide on what would work for me.

[zein]

Aluminum oxide creates a good tight structure, so once the aluminum oxide is on the aluminum surface, there isn't much oxygen penetrating to the underlayer of unoxidised aluminum which is probably why the company pre-oxidises them and then seals the panels. Other metals, for example iron oxidise into a porous, open structure like rust (iron oxide). By the way, I love your instructions! 🙂

[GeoffBeggs]

I’ve been doing a lot of looking around. This is a very solid overview. Thanks.

[rmc]

I use a oil or Acrylics based primer for my MDF from Home Depot called Gripper . I also can purchase here all my MDF in Idaho pure none of boards have chemicals what’s so ever .
No problems !!! I can texture my boards, or roll with cabinet roller super smooth . I go out side or the garage and do lots of boards at one time different sizes . My paint is never matte . I love painting on MDF is a lot less expensive than hundreds of dollars. Yes I have a handy hubby that is able to cut them .
But my lumber yard that carry’s the MDF will cut them for me if hubby’s fishing .

[michaelbooth]

As an architectual graduate I find this fascinating. Look into low VOC, green star rated materials. Should be a good starting point .

[fabryclock]

Thank you so much for sharing your extended knowledge and thank you for encouraging all of us!

[sapnarao]

Great video very informative. I am restorer too. This has been very helpful