Hardboard and Wood Painting Panels

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Hardboard and Wood Painting Panels


Looking for an archival alternative to stretched canvas? Try hardboard and wood painting panels. Unlike canvas, which is flexible, wood painting panels offer rigid support and are best for non-flexible media such as tempera, encaustic, and casein paints. Wood panels are also great surfaces for painting with acrylics, even though acrylic paint is flexible when dry.


Hardboard panels are made from a hard wood, such as birch or basswood, which are proven to be stable over time and resist cracking.


Choose from primed or unprimed art panels. Unfinished solid wood may expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature, so priming your hardboard surface is highly recommended. Primed boards are typically coated in acrylic gesso, savings artists time and money.


Wood and Hardboard Panels offer an archival alternative to stretched canvas. This rigid support is best for non flexible media such as tempera, encaustic, and casein paints.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • When are panels preferred over stretched canvas?

    Panels are preferred for acrylic pouring techniques or other heavy paint applications which can cause stretched canvas fabric to sag. Rigid supports like panels are sometimes preferred for oils, which become more brittle as they age, and are a necessity for less flexible media like egg tempera, casein, and encaustic. Stretched canvases are lighter weight and are more readily available in larger sizes for that reason. Stretched canvases can also be taken off their frames and re-stretched, which can also be a convenience for transport.

  • Are there any considerations I should be aware of when using acrylic pouring techniques on a large panel?

    Large acrylic pours can dampen the underlying panel, causing it to bow under the weight of the paint. Be sure to support large pours from beneath the panel to ensure the surface remains completely flat while the paint dries.

  • How are panels typically framed or displayed?

    Thin panels (1/8" - 3/16") are typically installed in frames for display. Deeper panels (1.5" - 2") are commonly hung without framing. Panels that are 7/8" or 3/4" deep can easily be framed or are sometimes hung without framing.

  • What does "cradled" mean?

    Panels are said to be "cradled" when they have an added wood support around the edge. This not only enhances stability, but it also adds depth to the panel for frameless presentation. Cradles may be painted. If they aren't already primed, they can also be stained or left unfinished.