Wooden and Processed Board Surfaces - Panels

Important Panel preparation trick - in case you do not know this:

Prime BOTH SIDES of the panel with the same number of coats of gesso, or white paint, or whatever you are using. Prime both sides at the same time! Do not wait for one side to dry first. This will prevent the problem of the panel curling up like a potato chip.

Primers - Canvas and Wood

For most artists, using gesso or rabbit skin glue just makes sense. Oil paints attack raw canvas, so you probably want to use something if you are an oil painter. And for most artists, using gesso is much easier than rabbit skin glue. But there are oil painters who want to keep with the traditions.

Many companies produce gesso. A lot of students buy economy gessoes, use white house paint, etc. All these will work. In my own experience with all these methods, I have found that I prefer Liquitex gesso. But I have used Dick Blick gesso and it is very good, too.

I must tell you about Bullseye Primer. I have used it on my wooden art for close to 20 years now. Occasionally I use gesso, if I happen to have it around, but I have used many gallons of Bullseye primer by Zinsser. It is not really an artist's primer, but it is a water-based primer that comes in gallons, is cheaper than gesso, dries quickly, is quite tough, and has worked very well for me. Plus, you have the benefit of 20 years of testing by yours truly, the webmaster - artist - primer tester. I buy it at Home Depot or Lowe's. I would guess that many home improvement stores carry it.

This will get you started down the path of art surface preparation. If you have more questions or suggestions, email them.