The history of art surfaces
Art surfaces have evolved significantly over time. Canvas has been a popular choice for a generations, known for its flexibility and portability. Aluminum panels, on the other hand, offer a more stable and durable surface for artists looking to protect their artwork. The shift from canvas to gesso panels reflects a desire for longevity and preservation of artwork. This evolution in art surfaces highlights the importance of artists adapting to new materials and methods to preserve their masterpieces.
Introduction to the evolution of art surfaces
Art surfaces have evolved significantly over time, from the traditional canvas to modern aluminum gesso panels. This evolution has allowed artists to experiment with different textures and materials, enhancing their creative possibilities. Understanding the history and development of art surfaces can provide insights into how artists have adapted to new techniques and innovations. Many oil painters today use the variation in painting surface to their advantage. Some using more absorbent traditional gesso panels to speed up dry time or using Lead Primed Linen Canvas Panels to slow dry time.
Transition from traditional canvas to modern gesso panels
The meaning of gesso, “a paste prepared by mixing whiting with size or glue and spread upon a surface to fit it for painting or gilding” has been used interchangeably with priming for many years. Historically when referring to “gesso” one would think marble dust with Gypsum (Hydrated calcium sulfate). This primer would most commonly be applied to a wood panel. A more diluted solution could also be applied to canvas. This created an absorbent painting surface that can be easily sanded to create a “silky soft surface that is absorbent to water-based paints”. Today you can find the word gesso on acrylic grounds, oil grounds and many other types of primers. Though traditional gesso grounds have advantages such as being very absorbent and sandable, other grounds have advantages as well. As an example Lead Alkyd grounds create a non absorbent painting surface that many oil painters covet. While many of the acrylic and vinyl grounds have great adhesion to non absorbent surfaces such as aluminum. Traditional gesso grounds have a hard time adhering to non porous surfaces such as aluminum art boards. This creates a dilemma for artists who want to use a traditional gesso ground on aluminum panels. In recent years, many artists have shifted from using traditional canvas to modern gesso panels such as Artefex Tempanels, due to their durability and unparalleled smoothness. Unlike canvas, gesso panels provide a stable base for artwork, reducing the risk of warping. The smooth texture of these gesso panels also allows for finer details and smoother brushstrokes in paintings. Artefex primed gesso panels are known for their archival quality, ensuring that artwork made on these panels will stand the test of time. These Artefex Tempanel gesso panels are available in various sizes and shapes, offering artists more flexibility in choosing the perfect surface for their creations.
Properties and benefits of Artefex Tempanel gesso panels
Gesso panels provide a sturdy base for various art mediums like acrylics, oils, and mixed media. Artists prefer Artefex gesso panels for their archival quality, ensuring artworks remain vibrant and intact for years to come.
How gesso panels are made
Traditional Gesso panels are made by applying several layers of a mixture of chalk, gypsum, and glue onto a wooden surface. This creates a smooth, absorbent surface for painting. First, the wooden panel is sanded to create a smooth texture. Then, the gesso mixture is applied in thin layers, allowing each layer to dry before adding the next. This process is repeated multiple times to achieve the desired thickness and surface quality. The final step involves sanding the surface to ensure it is even and ready for painting. A great resource and a step by step guide can be found at https://www.naturalpigments.com/artist-materials/gesso-grounds-ancient-recipes.
Artefex has 3 options for gesso panels, Tempanels and two Oleopanels.
- Artefex Tempanels are designed to be absorbent and to closely mimic the properties of a traditional, gypsum gesso, panel. These panels are quadruple primed on sanded Artefex aluminum composite panels. The panels are sanded between the 1st coat and 4th coat of primer application. This creates a smooth painting surface that can either be toned, re-primed or painted on directly. This panel can be used with most mediums including drawing, acrylics, water based mediums and oils.
- Artefex Oleopanels are designed to be the least absorbent panels with two texture variations. First is the 411 Smooth Oleopanel that has a consistent feel almost like a grid. This panel is not designed to be ultra smooth but rather designed to have just enough texture to deposit paint without feeling slick under the brush.
- The second Oleopanel is the 410 Eggshell Oleopanel that has a textured uneven surface with deep valleys and ridges. This gesso panel is designed for artists who need more texture and want to deposit a lot of paint with every stroke. A favorite with landscape artists and ala prima techniques.
Why artists are choosing gesso panels
Gesso panels offer a sturdy base for artwork, preventing warping or damage compared to traditional canvas. The smooth texture allows for precise brushwork and detail in paintings. Gesso panels also provide a consistent surface that doesn’t stretch, expand or contract like canvas can, ensuring that your art stays true to its original form. This is most prominent when artwork is shipped or moved from studio to final presentation space. Many factors have to to be considered during these fragile stages. You can find a more in depth description of these challenges and how to address them here.
Gesso Art panel for Acryclic, tempera and oil painting mediums.
Techniques for painting on gesso panels
450 Tempanel Gesso Panel
When oil painting on 450 Tempanel gesso panels, it’s best to start with a light sketch using a pencil or charcoal. This helps you plan out your composition before applying paint. Ensure the gesso is fully dry before painting to prevent smudging or lifting of the paint. When painting, use thin layers of paint to build up your colors gradually. Consider using a palette knife for creating textured effects on the gesso surface. Experiment with different brushes and brush strokes to achieve varying textures and details in your artwork. The unique thing about Tempanels is that the primer is very versatile allowing for painting with oils, acrylics, drawing mediums and even in some cases water based paints.
411 Oleopanel Gesso Panel
When painting on 411 Oleopanels, it is important to consider the unique surface texture and absorbency of these panels. The smooth, oil-primed surface provides a great foundation for oil painting techniques, allowing for rich colors and smooth brushstrokes to stay right on top of the panels. Many artists choose this panel if they are struggling with sinking in and a constant need to oil out when they come back to certain passages. Oleopanels will be the least absorbent panels most artists ever paint on. Experimenting with different techniques and tools on Oleopanels can lead to stunning and unique artworks that showcase the beauty of oil painting.
Conclusion: The future of art surfaces
In the future, art surfaces are likely to continue evolving to meet the needs of artists in terms of durability and versatility. New materials and technologies are constantly being developed to provide artists with innovative options for their creations. Innovation is key to shaping the future of art surfaces, combining traditional materials with the latest innovations to create the best surfaces to both paint on and protect artwork.
