Painting surfaces: Art wood panels and how to prepare them for painting

Art wood panels were used by the Old Masters, before stretches canvas appear and are still use by some artist today. They are a nice, although sometimes an expensive alternative to paint on. I found they are also a good option for painting studies and practice; depending on the medium used, both sides can be used saving money (as long as you find a cheap alternative) and space in your home .

They are also great for finished pieces, but I would recommend a good quality wood and careful preparation for that. It is important to seal and protect all the wood exposed surfaces.

Painting  on panel is a gratifying experience and proof to be a good support for different styles of painting. As long as it's surface is prepared with the appropriate medium (pastel ground, gesso, watercolor ground, oil ground, etc) it is a very versatile support. Also, the possible shapes are a great jumpstart for the artist creative imagination.

It is always interesting and gratifying to explore different art supplies and mediums, and so it is with different painting surfaces.

Here is a quick video briefly showing how I prepare my panels for painting and some of the other alternatives I have found to the most expensive art wood panels in the market.