inputs about ‘oil on panel’, ‘gouache on panel’? how to preserve? What exactly ‘panel’ means?

Question

I wanted to understand what ‘panel’ means. I heard it means, actual plywood or processed wood board. What best way to use it?

Thanks Albannach and SD!
SD, I would be glad if you provide me more inputs on this, I really appreciate your experience based inputs. Please answer my next question that way it will be easy for many to get it well...

Answer 1

'Panel', like 'canvas' can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, however I think of 'canvas' as being cloth and 'panel' being something hard, like wood or board. I paint on masonite (hardboard) covered with linen, and label it either hardboard or hardboard panel. If I was using a wood panel, I would say wood panel. (Basically whatever I paint on I label it exactly what it is so my customers know what it is painted on for preservation purposes.)
Traditional gesso is not the standard acrylic gesso you see in art stores, but a mix of chalk (I think) and oil paint... double check that!! ;) and it can ONLY be used on panel because fabric 'gives' and your painting would crack. However, on a hard panel, like wood, traditional or acrylic gesso can be used.
Panel can be used for oil, acrylic and tempera, I'm not too familiar with gouache! ;) I have also used watercolor on acrylic gessoed panels and they did fine even after being underwater(see below.)
Hope I'm not going on and on... Panels over 11x14 inches, unless they are heavily braced, and sometimes even if they are!!!), will warp if gotten wet. I know this from personal experience from having 99% of my work under water during/after Katrina.
Hope this helps!!

Answer 2

"Panel" is just that. It's either a piece of wood, plywood, Masonite, particle board........Panel.