Good morning!
I’m just getting back into oil painting and silverpoint after a 10-yr hiatus. I got back into sculpture last year.
I’m DEFINITELY over thinking things, but that’s just who I am. I’m a very indecisive person and like to know everything about a problem!
practically speaking, my first efforts are NOT going to need to be archival haha. But I still want to make the right decision.
Anyway: to begin,
I have TWO use cases.
one, I’ll be securing hemp canvas to a rigid backing and then using an oil primer,
two, I’ll be securing the same canvas to a rigid backing and then using traditional gesso [whiting].
three… I could just prime or gesso the panel directly…
so, which is better as a rigid support for small-medium panels, say up to 8×20″, probably 1/4″ thick–
I see it this way:
I want to use plywood because,
lighter,
stronger,
more humidity resistant (mdf puffs up if it gets wet)
advantages of mdf:
dimensional stability, it is smooth and dead flat, plywood warps
I’ll be making a trip to home depot in the next day or two so looking forward to your advice! ….mdf or plywood?
I DO have three other thoughts:
there’s a dude on facebook marketplaceselling 1/8″ aluminum for super cheap, $70 for 3×8′ (compared to $25 for 4×8′ cheap plywood, so more expensive but not MUCH more per panel).. totally archival, light weight, dimensionally stable and moisture-proof… can get bent though haha. And harder to cut up (would need to borrow a table saw and buy a metal cutting blade, not a huge deal). can paint DIRECTLY on aluminum too, like copper panel but much cheaper. worth exploring?
what ever happened to painting on fiberglass canvas, which doesn’t rot? I’m having a harder time finding it for sale, but 10 years ago you could get it. were there issues with the primer adhesion?
lastly, …at least if people are using a canvas mounted to a rigid support like I am… why doesn’t anyone use acrylic sheet? plastic is easy to cut, super stable and waterproof, cheaper than aluminum although pricier than plywood, and you don’t need oil to stick directly to the acrylic plastic sheet if you’re going to tack down your canvas first, then prime that.
Hi
Of the three options, I generally prefer a good quality plywood but only if covered with a fabric interlayer. I do not like any ground applied directly to the wood. If it were me, I would use a fine weave if you are going to use true gesso or animal skin-chalk grounds. I am not a huge fan of MDF, mainly because if bumped on the corner, it tends to crumple. I have also seen larger sheets warp under its own weight, especially if leaned against a wall.
This is only in relation to the options you mentioned. As to the other materials that you mention later in the post, I highly recommend that you read over our FABRIC SUPPORTS and RIGID SUPPORTS downloadable PDFs found in our resources section here
https://www.artcons.udel.edu/mitra/resources
If you still do not find the answer, please do a search, we have had a great many discussions about suitable substrates.
Finally, feel free to again ask any questions not found in these resources.
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