Hi Joseph. I can only agree with the others on their appraisal about your impressive and most detailed instruction on how to do it properly when it comes to preparing a painting surface. All the best from Denmark.
Thank you for sharing your insights Joseph! They are very helpful because I’ve always wanted to try painting on these hardboards but unsure of how to prepare them. Whenever you have time, could you please share the mounting or framing process as well? Thanks!
You're welcome! I'm happy to share and I'm glad this was helpful! And though there is a bit of time involved in the prep, I really like painting on board and the ultra smooth surface I can create. I get a local framing shop to do all my framing, but perhaps if there's a time where I'm putting a painting into a frame myself, I can show how I do that.
Hey Joseph! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I love your calm way of explaining. You really learned me something today: using a putty knife instead of a brush. Maybe you think: Yeah duh! But I never thought of that possibility. And I always get so frustrated when applying gesso on my boards and finding the brushstrokes. It really stresses me out. So I’m definitely gonna use this one! So thank you and let’s keep this artist community growing! Greetings from Holland 🙂
You're welcome! I'm happy to share! I only started using a putty knife about five years ago, and it made such a huge difference. I would spend so much time sanding and this greatly cut down on that time. Definitely try it and hopefully you'll see some great results right away!
Joseph, thank you for showing and explaining your process. I do not think that most people understand the concept of preparing your own surface for painting. I go through a similar process with my canvases. I want a very smooth surface and it takes many layers of gesso and sanding each layer as I go. You cannot paint as fine a detail on a canvas that is not exactly smooth. Thank you again for explaining each step in your process. Great job,❤
We just bought a massive HD tv. We set up youtube, and because I love watching great acrylic art videos I started running through a few, all the family watching... Then your painting of a red Tanger came up, ther was a mixture of gasps, wows and an admarational sweary word, that was me I'm sorry to say, but honestly that painting is absolutely stunning and on the 80in HD....it burst out into the room..I have watched half of it, I'll catch up later, but years ago when my mum said patience is a virtue most people done have, she definitely wasn't talking about you. You're a genius, we had a vote so there's no saying you ain't.. Lots of love from Inverness 🏴
Thank you so much for this very kind comment. I'm glad to hear how much everyone enjoyed my Scarlet Tanager video! I was happy to share that painting process and give some insight into how I bring out all those details. I've got more videos planned that I hope will be just as enjoyable. Appreciate you watching!
Hi Joseph. This just reinforced what I do for my hardboard except for using the spatula for application of the gesso and the light wet sanding and the edges. I have a number of boards that need prepping so I'll include this in my process. Nice to see you teaching!! Terry
Thank you Terry! I'm happy to share the things I've learned from my own trial and error. Give them a try and I hope they'll be helpful for your hardboards!
This was exactly my question after watching another of your videos. Thank you for such wonderful guidance you share here. Many congratulations for such incredibly beautiful works you make.✨👌👌👌
Thank you Joseph. Very detailed information there. I have always wanted to paint on a prepared board, just to see how it compares to paper or canvas. Looks like the way to go for doing detailed paintings. I am definitely going to give this surface a try.
I usually use a black sandable spray primer on hardboard, as I use airbrush and come from the automotive custom paint world, where I would do a white underpainting on black and use opaques and candies to color. I wanted to try working on white Gesso, so I just primed a 20x20 with acrylic Gesso by thinning and spraying it. It came out smooth as silk.
I'm glad to hear that you've had great results with spraying the gesso. I've considered doing it that way and seeing what kind of results I'd get - and to cut down on sanding time. I'll have to give it a try when I have a chance!
Great video Joseph, thank you. The only thing I'd add is I typically cut and prep a bunch of boards at the same time, it's just too much work for just one board.
Thank you! Happy to share. Yes, that is a good thing to add. I don't mind doing one at a time, but I try to do multiple ones at a time if I have enough planned. Definitely more efficient and energy saving.
this is excellent tutorial, thank you for sharing your process, Joseph. Would like to share one of the cons with boards, being professional artist and selling artworks. Canvas rolled into tubes is great way to ship artworks across the world. Whereas shipping boards becomes bit expensive. Have faced such scenarios at art shows with customers. Something to think about for professionals. Smaller size boards are fine, with bigger size works, the artists have to make their own choices.
Thank you! Happy to share! And thank you for sharing that. It's a great point to bring up about the size and weight for shipping - especially overseas from your home country. And rolled canvas is definitely a great option for larger paintings that are going to customers worldwide. I haven't shipped large originals overseas yet, just smaller works. But this is a good consideration for the future for big paintings that may reach a larger audience, where shipping internationally could be quite costly.
Would sealing with a few coats of Varathane Water based polyurethane work as well to seal the boards? Or water based eggshell finish interior paint? Then do the gesso coats?
They would probably work to seal the boards, however there may be some kind of solvent or component in them that could have a reaction with the gesso or acrylic paint. So definitely worth looking at what's in them, and possibly doing some tests before using them on one your paintings.
Would a gel matte medium work as well? I have plenty of that but no gloss medium. I just wanted to make sure before buying more product. Thank you so much for the detailed video.
You're welcome, happy to share! As far as I understand, matte medium doesn't make as good of a sealer because it will tend to be more porous than the gloss. That absorbency won't make it as effective at blocking SID as the gloss would. In my research I found that the 2 products I mention in the video - the GAC 100 and Gloss Medium, were recommended the most after testing.
Having a look at their site, the Ampersand board looks like a great high quality substrate to paint on. And based on their description, the Gessoboard appears to be the closest to what I've made here for myself. But also with the option to get boards that have wooden framing on the back for more support. Definitely worth trying.
Hi Joseph, your tutorial is really interesting, and it makes me want to try painting on wood more. Do you paint on canvas or linen at all? I love your art. If I could be half as talented, I would be so happy! 😊
Thank you so much! It's definitely worth trying to paint on wood to see if it works for your paintings! I very rarely paint on canvas as I really like this type of surface for the work I do. But I will probably do some in the future for much larger works that are 8 feet wide or larger. And that would just be to cut down on the weight and make it much easier to move around while I'm working on it.
I am artist since 2000. I never tried panels for my art. I used panels to stretch my canvas. Once my art work is done I remove canvas from panel for easy transportation or preservation. My question to you: How you hang this? Do you need custom frame to hang this panel ? Or do you stick wood bars 4 sides to give support for hanging?
Thank you for this lesson. I was missing the first step. I have had some bleeding coming through the board. Sort of like a water stain coming through your ceiling.
You're welcome! Yes, sealing the board is really important. When I started painting on hardboard I didn't know anything about that and experienced some similar things. It's also why I like to do 3 coats instead of the recommended 2 - just so that I know I've got a good seal, and my painting will last.
Surely it can't take that long to dry Joseph, traditional gesso (rabbit skin glue and whiting) is dry within an hour on a warm day. Thanks for the video.
I've usually had this particular gesso take quite a while to dry - which could possibly be because I'm applying it quite thick. I'd be curious to see how the traditional gesso would behave differently. As well, after all the layers, I find that it sands much better after at least a few days of drying. At times when I've sanded it too soon after the last coat, it would gum up on my sandpaper and left grooves in the gesso. So now I just give it a bit of extra time after and then it sands nice and smooth.
Oi amigo. Eu gosto de desenhar no tecido. Eu sou uma boa desenhista e pintora e aprendi sozinha. Eu nunca fiz curso de artes. Eu tenho facilidade de aprender tudo isso. ..Muito lindo seus desenhos.
It is similar, but from what I've read online, the fibers are a lot a smaller and it's compressed more than mdf - making denser. I've seen it referred to as HDF (high density fiberboard), though parts of the process may vary from the way they make MDF.
What I think you did wrong was when you beveled the edges after all the sealing was done. Now the edge is "open" to any moisture. SO, I say bevel first. That way the edges stay sealed. Secondly you used gloss medium to initially seal, but then later mentioned that when you were applying the gesso, that if too much was applied at once, you risk warpage. So Is the Gloss medium underneath even actually sealing? Next ,Safe cutting. 1) When you use your saw, set the blade cut depth to about 1" deeper than your board,(in this case, 1-1/4". You had it set way to deep. Just get it so the teeth of the blade show beneath the cut , not half of the whole blade . 2) , At 1:30 .When cutting, place your cutline a couple inches past the edge of your sawhorse. It looks as if you had it 8" past it. This keeps the wood firm while you get to the end of your cut. The way you did it had the everything bowing downwards towards the end of your cutting. At 1:40. This can end up binding the blade and the wood, which could screw up the edge with the saw maybe kicking back!. So basically, for 1/4" board, set the saws cutting depth a little over 1", place your cut line closer to the support underneath it, leaving the excess hang over ,so it drops to the floor after the cut.
I heard by a number of people Gesso had in the last several years changed their Formula. and is not as good. People have been finding their acrylic applied paintings Chipping, SO I have been spray with Rust-Oleum flat white, 2 coats, sand , another coat and sand. I also want to know what to use, for Spay Adhesive by Krylon and their Clear Coat, THEY too , had to have in 2023 Changed their Formula. Because when I want to give 123, 5"x7" printed copies and to apply to another stiffer mixed medium paper . the spray both the Clear Coat and Adhesive bleed through the copies. NEVER before happened.
I haven't personally noticed a change in the gesso I use, but perhaps there has been and it depends on how it is used or applied. I'm sorry to hear that you've had some problems with the Krylon clear coats. I don't have much experience with Krylon paints and haven't ever used their clear coat, but I have tried a spray archival varnish from Golden that I really liked. Though I'd recommend making sure it's compatible with your paint and doing some testing before you go directly to an original.
It is the prints that I down load. In the past I did not have any problems. Pandemic , really did have an affect. Many products went out of business. I looked for other sprays but art store Dick Blick ,doesn't carry in their store, or are out. To order ONLINE, delivery, crap. THIEVES ready to get the package before the door is opened, One kid got caught grabbing from the carrier and running off, before the carrier could set it down.@@JosephKoensgen
It is one of the downsides to this - it can take a lot of time to prepare. So it is very much personal preference about what painting surface you want to paint on, but it is definitely an option if you're looking for an ultra smooth painting surface.
No, it is too costly buying ready to paint panels or canvas with high quality compare to investment you kept for these materials. I am professional artist, buying BLICK linen triple primed canvas 52 inches *3 yards for 450$. Is it worth. ???? Buy un-primed canvas, apply glue layer, then I prime it to 3-4 layers, sanding it costs me 150-200$ with the finish I want. Now you can say which is better. If you are doing art for hobby it may worth. For larger scale buying outside is not worth any more or any way
The most detailed comprehensive video about this subject I’ve ever seen. And I’ve watched many many of them. Thank you Joseph amazing video!
Thank you!! I really appreciate that! I wanted to share as much as I could from the many hardboards I've prepared over the years!
Hi Joseph. I can only agree with the others on their appraisal about your impressive and most detailed instruction on how to do it properly when it comes to preparing a painting surface. All the best from Denmark.
Thank you!! Appreciate that!
Thank you for sharing your insights Joseph! They are very helpful because I’ve always wanted to try painting on these hardboards but unsure of how to prepare them. Whenever you have time, could you please share the mounting or framing process as well? Thanks!
You're welcome! I'm happy to share and I'm glad this was helpful! And though there is a bit of time involved in the prep, I really like painting on board and the ultra smooth surface I can create. I get a local framing shop to do all my framing, but perhaps if there's a time where I'm putting a painting into a frame myself, I can show how I do that.
Hey Joseph! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I love your calm way of explaining. You really learned me something today: using a putty knife instead of a brush. Maybe you think: Yeah duh! But I never thought of that possibility. And I always get so frustrated when applying gesso on my boards and finding the brushstrokes. It really stresses me out. So I’m definitely gonna use this one! So thank you and let’s keep this artist community growing! Greetings from Holland 🙂
You're welcome! I'm happy to share! I only started using a putty knife about five years ago, and it made such a huge difference. I would spend so much time sanding and this greatly cut down on that time. Definitely try it and hopefully you'll see some great results right away!
👍@@JosephKoensgen
Joseph, thank you for showing and explaining your process. I do not think that most people understand the concept of preparing your own surface for painting. I go through a similar process with my canvases. I want a very smooth surface and it takes many layers of gesso and sanding each layer as I go. You cannot paint as fine a detail on a canvas that is not exactly smooth. Thank you again for explaining each step in your process. Great job,❤
We just bought a massive HD tv.
We set up youtube, and because I love watching great acrylic art videos I started running through a few, all the family watching...
Then your painting of a red Tanger came up, ther was a mixture of gasps, wows and an admarational sweary word, that was me I'm sorry to say, but honestly that painting is absolutely stunning and on the 80in HD....it burst out into the room..I have watched half of it, I'll catch up later, but years ago when my mum said patience is a virtue most people done have, she definitely wasn't talking about you.
You're a genius, we had a vote so there's no saying you ain't..
Lots of love from Inverness 🏴
Thank you so much for this very kind comment. I'm glad to hear how much everyone enjoyed my Scarlet Tanager video! I was happy to share that painting process and give some insight into how I bring out all those details. I've got more videos planned that I hope will be just as enjoyable. Appreciate you watching!
Thank you so much you are amazing and helpful
Thank you Joseph for detailed explanation 👌
I use to paint on hardboard, and I must say. I did prefer the smoother surface. Thanks for your wonderful tutorial video
Thank you
Hi Joseph. This just reinforced what I do for my hardboard except for using the spatula for application of the gesso and the light wet sanding and the edges. I have a number of boards that need prepping so I'll include this in my process. Nice to see you teaching!!
Terry
Thank you Terry! I'm happy to share the things I've learned from my own trial and error. Give them a try and I hope they'll be helpful for your hardboards!
This was exactly my question after watching another of your videos. Thank you for such wonderful guidance you share here. Many congratulations for such incredibly beautiful works you make.✨👌👌👌
Thanks for doing such a nice, detailed video of your process. Very clear and helpful explanation.
Thank you Joseph. Very detailed information there. I have always wanted to paint on a prepared board, just to see how it compares to paper or canvas. Looks like the way to go for doing detailed paintings. I am definitely going to give this surface a try.
You're welcome! It's definitely worth trying. I've been painting on this type of board for more than 20 years now and it's been great for me.
I usually use a black sandable spray primer on hardboard, as I use airbrush and come from the automotive custom paint world, where I would do a white underpainting on black and use opaques and candies to color. I wanted to try working on white Gesso, so I just primed a 20x20 with acrylic Gesso by thinning and spraying it. It came out smooth as silk.
I'm glad to hear that you've had great results with spraying the gesso. I've considered doing it that way and seeing what kind of results I'd get - and to cut down on sanding time. I'll have to give it a try when I have a chance!
@@JosephKoensgen I did 4 coats, each consisting of two passes. One in each direction. Needed next to no sanding.😎
Great video Joseph, thank you. The only thing I'd add is I typically cut and prep a bunch of boards at the same time, it's just too much work for just one board.
Thank you! Happy to share. Yes, that is a good thing to add. I don't mind doing one at a time, but I try to do multiple ones at a time if I have enough planned. Definitely more efficient and energy saving.
this was helpful. thank you :)
Thank you. Your easel looks interesting, would love a closer look, did you create it yourself?
Bu bilgiler için teşekkürler hocam 🙏❤️❤️❤️
this is excellent tutorial, thank you for sharing your process, Joseph. Would like to share one of the cons with boards, being professional artist and selling artworks. Canvas rolled into tubes is great way to ship artworks across the world. Whereas shipping boards becomes bit expensive. Have faced such scenarios at art shows with customers. Something to think about for professionals. Smaller size boards are fine, with bigger size works, the artists have to make their own choices.
Thank you! Happy to share! And thank you for sharing that. It's a great point to bring up about the size and weight for shipping - especially overseas from your home country. And rolled canvas is definitely a great option for larger paintings that are going to customers worldwide. I haven't shipped large originals overseas yet, just smaller works. But this is a good consideration for the future for big paintings that may reach a larger audience, where shipping internationally could be quite costly.
Thank you ❤
How do you mount it onto a wall though? Thank you so much
Would sealing with a few coats of Varathane Water based polyurethane work as well to seal the boards? Or water based eggshell finish interior paint? Then do the gesso coats?
They would probably work to seal the boards, however there may be some kind of solvent or component in them that could have a reaction with the gesso or acrylic paint. So definitely worth looking at what's in them, and possibly doing some tests before using them on one your paintings.
Would a gel matte medium work as well? I have plenty of that but no gloss medium. I just wanted to make sure before buying more product. Thank you so much for the detailed video.
You're welcome, happy to share! As far as I understand, matte medium doesn't make as good of a sealer because it will tend to be more porous than the gloss. That absorbency won't make it as effective at blocking SID as the gloss would. In my research I found that the 2 products I mention in the video - the GAC 100 and Gloss Medium, were recommended the most after testing.
@@JosephKoensgen Perfect, thank you so much for the reply Joseph.
I know you are nice person. I am face reader. Subscribed.
Say you didnt have the time to make your own panel Is there any premade panel you could recommend as a close alternative i.e an Ampersand board?
Having a look at their site, the Ampersand board looks like a great high quality substrate to paint on. And based on their description, the Gessoboard appears to be the closest to what I've made here for myself. But also with the option to get boards that have wooden framing on the back for more support. Definitely worth trying.
Hi Joseph, your tutorial is really interesting, and it makes me want to try painting on wood more. Do you paint on canvas or linen at all? I love your art. If I could be half as talented, I would be so happy! 😊
Thank you so much! It's definitely worth trying to paint on wood to see if it works for your paintings! I very rarely paint on canvas as I really like this type of surface for the work I do. But I will probably do some in the future for much larger works that are 8 feet wide or larger. And that would just be to cut down on the weight and make it much easier to move around while I'm working on it.
I am artist since 2000. I never tried panels for my art. I used panels to stretch my canvas. Once my art work is done I remove canvas from panel for easy transportation or preservation.
My question to you:
How you hang this? Do you need custom frame to hang this panel ?
Or do you stick wood bars 4 sides to give support for hanging?
I mostly put my paintings in custom frames. But you could also add bars to the back and attach hardware for hanging it.
Oi amigo. Gosto muito de pássaros. Eu tenho um livro de pássaros. Aqui onde eu vivo existem muitas espécies de pássaros.
Thank you for this lesson. I was missing the first step. I have had some bleeding coming through the board. Sort of like a water stain coming through your ceiling.
You're welcome! Yes, sealing the board is really important. When I started painting on hardboard I didn't know anything about that and experienced some similar things. It's also why I like to do 3 coats instead of the recommended 2 - just so that I know I've got a good seal, and my painting will last.
Surely it can't take that long to dry Joseph, traditional gesso (rabbit skin glue and whiting) is dry within an hour on a warm day. Thanks for the video.
I've usually had this particular gesso take quite a while to dry - which could possibly be because I'm applying it quite thick. I'd be curious to see how the traditional gesso would behave differently. As well, after all the layers, I find that it sands much better after at least a few days of drying. At times when I've sanded it too soon after the last coat, it would gum up on my sandpaper and left grooves in the gesso. So now I just give it a bit of extra time after and then it sands nice and smooth.
Oi amigo. Eu gosto de desenhar no tecido. Eu sou uma boa desenhista e pintora e aprendi sozinha. Eu nunca fiz curso de artes. Eu tenho facilidade de aprender tudo isso. ..Muito lindo seus desenhos.
Thank you!! I'm glad that my videos have been helpful!
Is hardboard the same as MDF (medium density fiberboard)?
It is similar, but from what I've read online, the fibers are a lot a smaller and it's compressed more than mdf - making denser. I've seen it referred to as HDF (high density fiberboard), though parts of the process may vary from the way they make MDF.
@@JosephKoensgen Thank you for the clarification. I appreciate your channel and skill.
What I think you did wrong was when you beveled the edges after all the sealing was done. Now the edge is "open" to any moisture. SO, I say bevel first. That way the edges stay sealed. Secondly you used gloss medium to initially seal, but then later mentioned that when you were applying the gesso, that if too much was applied at once, you risk warpage. So Is the Gloss medium underneath even actually sealing?
Next ,Safe cutting.
1) When you use your saw, set the blade cut depth to about 1" deeper than your board,(in this case, 1-1/4". You had it set way to deep. Just get it so the teeth of the blade show beneath the cut , not half of the whole blade .
2) , At 1:30 .When cutting, place your cutline a couple inches past the edge of your sawhorse. It looks as if you had it 8" past it. This keeps the wood firm while you get to the end of your cut. The way you did it had the everything bowing downwards towards the end of your cutting. At 1:40. This can end up binding the blade and the wood, which could screw up the edge with the saw maybe kicking back!.
So basically, for 1/4" board, set the saws cutting depth a little over 1", place your cut line closer to the support underneath it, leaving the excess hang over ,so it drops to the floor after the cut.
I heard by a number of people Gesso had in the last several years changed their Formula. and is not as good. People have been finding their acrylic applied paintings Chipping, SO I have been spray with Rust-Oleum flat white, 2 coats, sand , another coat and sand. I also want to know what to use, for Spay Adhesive by Krylon and their Clear Coat, THEY too , had to have in 2023 Changed their Formula. Because when I want to give 123, 5"x7" printed copies and to apply to another stiffer mixed medium paper . the spray both the Clear Coat and Adhesive bleed through the copies. NEVER before happened.
I haven't personally noticed a change in the gesso I use, but perhaps there has been and it depends on how it is used or applied. I'm sorry to hear that you've had some problems with the Krylon clear coats. I don't have much experience with Krylon paints and haven't ever used their clear coat, but I have tried a spray archival varnish from Golden that I really liked. Though I'd recommend making sure it's compatible with your paint and doing some testing before you go directly to an original.
It is the prints that I down load. In the past I did not have any problems. Pandemic , really did have an affect. Many products went out of business. I looked for other sprays but art store Dick Blick ,doesn't carry in their store, or are out. To order ONLINE, delivery, crap. THIEVES ready to get the package before the door is opened, One kid got caught grabbing from the carrier and running off, before the carrier could set it down.@@JosephKoensgen
and after about 12 month you are ready to paint
It looks very painfully long process...but very very professional maybe
It is one of the downsides to this - it can take a lot of time to prepare. So it is very much personal preference about what painting surface you want to paint on, but it is definitely an option if you're looking for an ultra smooth painting surface.
6 days of coating, then a week for drying... the cons (12:29) outweigh the pros, better to buy a ready-to-paint board, seriously.
No, it is too costly buying ready to paint panels or canvas with high quality compare to investment you kept for these materials.
I am professional artist, buying BLICK linen triple primed canvas 52 inches *3 yards for 450$. Is it worth. ???? Buy un-primed canvas, apply glue layer, then I prime it to 3-4 layers, sanding it costs me 150-200$ with the finish I want.
Now you can say which is better.
If you are doing art for hobby it may worth. For larger scale buying outside is not worth any more or any way