Garden Shadows--Canvas Panels--Painting Surfaces

This morning's little painting is 5x7 inches on a canvas panel. It is only occasionally that I paint on canvas panels, but they are light weight and are convenient for travelling. The challenge with creating work on a canvas panel is that they are not archival and are subject to warping. I only use them for practice. It would be awful to create a wonderful masterpiece only to find that the humidity has warped the painting and it won't sit squarely on a wall, in a frame, or on an easel. Usually I paint on gessoed hardboard panels or streched canvas. The hardboard panels are sturdy and can last a life time. While continued exposure to moisture can cause problems, these panels are much less apt to warp or lose their shape compared to canvas panels. They are my favorite surface for durability. The challenge with hardboard panels is that when paintings increase in size, the panels can become heavy and difficult to hang. Therefore, when I paint larger works, I work on stretched canvas which will also last a lifetime if properly cared for. Sharp objects can pierce a canvas and destroy work, but the lighter weight will make hanging much easier than a heavy hardboard panel. These are some ideas to keep in mind if you are beinning to collect art. A suggestion I will offer if you are considering buying art online is to purchase a small, canvas panel from an artist you like. They are usually less expensive and can give you a sense of the artist's work before investing in larger, more expensive paintings on panel or canvas. This little painting will probably go in the affordable art section of the Small Impressions Gallery at Etsy when it dries. These paintings sell fast because of their economy. They make great little gifts and give a good preview of the artist's skill before purchasing a larger painting. If you are interested in larger work on hardboard panel or stretched canvas, check out Impressions Gallery at 1000 Markets.

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