INEXPENSIVE SURFACES FOR PAINTING!
I posted a while ago about painting on masonite as opposed to canvas. Well since then I have found another surface that's even better and less expensive!
It is birch! Birch wood is very light, very durable, and very smooth, and it does NOT require you to coat all sides to seal against moisture. I gesso the surface I paint on, but I do that on my canvas too. The nicest part is that the birch is so durable! You don't have to worry about punctures or tears like you do with canvas.
Go to your local lumber supply such as Home Depot and you can find birch plywood in 1/8" for small works or 1/4" for larger paintings. It comes in the full 4 x 8 sheets and also 2 x 4 sheets. I have them cut it down to 12 x 12 size panels or a size suitable for standard frames. The store will usually give you a certain number of cuts for free, but even if they charge it is minimal. I do not recommend buying anything thicker than 1/4" birch as the interior layers can …
It is birch! Birch wood is very light, very durable, and very smooth, and it does NOT require you to coat all sides to seal against moisture. I gesso the surface I paint on, but I do that on my canvas too. The nicest part is that the birch is so durable! You don't have to worry about punctures or tears like you do with canvas.
Go to your local lumber supply such as Home Depot and you can find birch plywood in 1/8" for small works or 1/4" for larger paintings. It comes in the full 4 x 8 sheets and also 2 x 4 sheets. I have them cut it down to 12 x 12 size panels or a size suitable for standard frames. The store will usually give you a certain number of cuts for free, but even if they charge it is minimal. I do not recommend buying anything thicker than 1/4" birch as the interior layers can …
