Painting Surfaces: from Canvas to Wood

There is a variety of different surfaces available for oil painting from paper to wood and even metal. I do not normally use paper as this is not durable enough and didn't try metal surfaces yet however may give it a go some time.

For commissions I use canvas panels, stretched canvas or wooden panels, they all have their pluses and minuses:

Canvas Panels

These are made from canvas wrapped around waterproof cardboard support, normally 3-4mm thick. Their main advantage is that they are flat and light and therefore easy to store, frame and cheap to post. Canvas Panel can be a good option for overseas postage. 

Negative point is that they tend to warp, especially larger sizes and is something went wrong with the cardboard support they are rather difficult to re-stretch.

Stretched Canvas

Canvas stretched around wooden bars. This is the most popular choice as this option is both durable and relatively lightweight. Cheap stretchers also tend to warp however I use only good quality pre-stretched Italian canvas (which is getting very difficult to get hold of!) or stretch the canvas myself making sure that the stretcher bars are made of high quality well dried wood.

Stretched canvases can be of standard depth, usually 18-20mm that usually go into a frame, or deep edge "gallery wrap" ones 45mm or even up to 80mm deep. These are usually hang without framing and image continues on edges creating modern look.

Stretched canvas larger than 16"x16" is expensive to post overseas however it can be taken off the stretchers and sent in a postal tube. Savings on delivery costs notrmally cover stretching by a local framer and possibly frame as a bonus!

Wood Panels

Wood panels are made from thick wooren board 5-10mm thick which makes the painting surface smooth, flat and rigid. The wood is knot free and very well finished. These boards are very good for detailed work. Some of them come mounted to wooden bars (like shown on the left) that can be used as part of the painting similar to deep edge canvas, and hang without frame. Unmounted wood palels should be framed and provide good alternative to canvas panels.

The disadvantages of wood panels are their weight and price. Mounted panels can be rather expensive to buy and post. Despite their solid construction they can be easier damaged than canvas. Also their sizes and shapes are limited so if you are looking for something unusual, e.g. long panoramic painting, stretched canvas will be the only option..