INTRODUCTION
The principle question that a painter thinks while choosing the ideal mode for painting is what the best surfaces for oil paints would be. Various criteria should be satisfied – sufficiently able to help the artwork yet not so rigid so that there is an opportunity of the work of art itself breaking, porous enough with the goal that the paint holds however not absorbent, so the paint is sucked in.
The Best Surface for Oil Paints
So which surface would it be a good idea for us to use? We have various choices – the foremost ones being Canvas, Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), Priming and Wood. Diverse kinds of surfaces can be utilized for oil paint. These have both advantages and disadvantages.
Before selecting particular surface, one needs to think about the advantages and disadvantages of the surfaces and then choose the specific surface. The final painting relies upon the surface used.
1. Canvas:
The most popular and beloved surface by many oil painters would be canvas. Available in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and even textures, canvas has been the favored surface by specialists since the fifteenth century. It is lightweight, budget friendly, and receptive to oil paints, it’s no big surprise that craftsmen have been attracted to canvas which basically works the best with regards to oil painting.
While the canvases of yesteryear might be very unique in relation to the canvas we have today (more on this in a moment), one aspect that has stayed true all through time is the dependence on natural fibers (normally cotton, flax, or hemp). These filaments, when woven together, make both a tooth and surface superficially that makes it incredibly simple for the fibers of oil paint brushes to hook on to without hardly lifting a finger.
Oil canvas today are ordinarily sold in four structures:
- Stretched
- Panel
- Pad
- Roll
Stretched Canvas:
This will probably be the one that you are as of now familiar with. Canvas that has been extended and stapled to wooden stretcher bars. This gives some ‘springiness’ to the surface while commonly being prepared with gesso. Utilized basically for presentation pieces, stretched canvases are incredible for intermediate to advanced level oil painters.
2. Wood:
The second-best surface with regards to oil painting will without a doubt be wood. Firstly, a wood surface is totally smooth. In this way, if you are attempting to put down exact lines because of the unpleasant surface of a stretched canvas, that issue moves toward becoming non-existent with wood (in spite of the fact that you will find in a moment how gesso can help on either surface). Secondly, the rigidness of wood. Unlike a stretched canvas that can create slack throughout the years, wood never wavers or bends. This guarantees long term recorded properties – just because of the nature of the surface itself.
As you will see when looking for wood surfaces for oil painting, they can vary quite a bit. We have seen the accompanying wood assortments accessible:
- Basswood
- Birch
- Baltic Birch
- Walnut
- Maple
While each sheet of wood has its own unique properties related with it, for example, the grain properties, steadiness, hardness, etc. we would concede to the organization’s site or product descriptions when settling in on the correct decision for you and your financial plan.
3. Papers:
Regardless of what you may have heard, it is perfectly possible to utilize paper for portraying in oil. Experts like it for its surface and drag. However, it merits putting resources into great quality, substantial water color paper that has been thinly prepared with an acrylic gesso primer.
4. Glass/ MDF:
One of a kind surfaces, for example, glass or MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) are additionally extraordinary alternatives with regards to oil painting. MDF has numerous properties likened to a board of wood however normally will ring up at a small amount of cost – particularly when contrasted with the pricier alternatives there.
5. Gesso:
A chalk and acrylic polymer blend, gesso is the mystery weapon for artists wherever so as to accomplish much better outcomes.
While canvas, wood, and sanded down MDF can give you a lot of surface to your piece, the gesso gives an astounding tooth to the oil paint to at last lock on to.
6. Aluminum:
The most recent pattern in oil painting surfaces is painting on aluminum. Numerous artists have been using sandwiched boards of aluminum (generally utilized for street signs) for oil painting. They are accessible in sheets, are easy to cut to size, nearly lightweight, slim and inflexible. To utilize it for oil painting, you need to sand it with sandpaper and prime it.
The benefit of painting upon something, for example, aluminum is the outrageous smoothness of the material. Such a material is the ideal material for the craftsmen who value doing fine detailed work. Other than that, it is light, stable, and doesn’t decay. Individuals can draw effectively on this surface because of the smoothness of the surface.
Student Grade Options
The costly or extravagant art materials aren’t going to make you an instantly better craftsman overnight. Rather, ordinary practice will end up being unmistakably progressively successful. If you are investigating the universe of oil surfaces for the absolute first time, at that point we generally prescribe that you choose the student grade materials (for example canvas boards).
While student grade quality is usually far less than that of a proper professional grade art supply, it’s for learning purposes and should serve its job fine – and it additionally enables you to completely welcome the better materials if and when you do ultimately upgrade.
FINAL VERDICT
While all painters require great materials, finding an amazing brush is a dire need for watercolor painters. With rising brush costs, more craftsmen are attempting different materials and will explore different avenues regarding an assortment of materials and styles before finding their most loved brushes. Artists who make substantial works will require a lot of bigger brushes than artists leaning toward little, point by point work.
As a rule, it’s smarter to choose a couple of good brushes, for example, a couple medium-estimate round and a level brush as opposed to attempting to gather a full scope of sizes and styles. Great quality rounds and pads can give the vast majority of the strokes which claim to fame styles offer. You can likewise try different things with various sorts of brushes to discover the kinds of brushes to suit your work of art style best.
Beatrix Ainsley (Bea to her friends) is an abstract artist who was heavily inspired in her twenties by the abstract expressionist movement of the 1940s. Since then Bea has acquired three degrees in Science, Education and most importantly Fine Art. Her art works showcase exploring emotion and introspection of self. To achieve this – the use of bold, sweeping, intricate layers of color, and spontaneity of form is enhanced by reflecting on decades of life experiences. Bea has amassed a vast knowledge of art in all its forms, and hopes to pass it on with her contributions here.