what wood do artist use to paint on most?

Answer 1

There is a laminate product similar to masonite called Luan(sp?)

It depends on the project that I am working on what type of would I use...some time it is the ugliest rawest piece I can find, sometimes it is a gorgeous canvas heavily gessoed and sanded and gessoed again

Answer 2

The masters used a hard wood of fine grain and usually more than one piece. They were glued together and gessoed with a lead based gesso.
These days the average artist uses masonite. I would be very carful of what masonite you use. There are masonites that have a high chemical content and they should be avoided so the best place to procure this board is with an art store.
If you want to copy the masters then go to a cabinet maker and commission him to build and plane a panel of fine grained hardwood about an inch thick.
As for cradling the wood you will have to investigate that your self. Some agree with it others disagree.
Cradling the wood panel is designed to keep the wood from warping with the moisture content of the air as the season changes. The cradle is supposed to allow movement within the wood but not so much as to allow it to damage itself.
Many artists disagree and point out that cradling is a useless task as it does not do the job intended. Some even believe that cradling the wood promotes a quicker retardation of the woods natural movements thereby doing damage to the painting on the other side.
Masonite can be secured to a strong frame behind the wood by glue if you wish. This would be a modern version of cradling the wood. Masonite is as prone to moisture as the solid woods are and it too will warp with the moisture content of the room it sits in. Heck I've had it warp on me as I was working on one piece, there was a nasty turn of events in the weather that year and it went wet, then dry, then wet, then dry, and so on. The atmosphere does have an effect on the wood.
Be sure you do not use the common masonite. Get an artist grade. Do not bother with plywoods, or MDFs as they are not really any good at all.

Answer 3

Charles,
Masonite is probably the wood used most often as a painting surface. It's not a natural wood, but a kind of mixture of wood sawdust pressed (and maybe glued) together. You can buy artists' quality Masonite that has already been primed for use in painting, or you can buy your own Masonite and your own gesso, which may be cheaper.

Answer 4

I make my own panels with clear 1/4" ply with 1"x2" mitered cradles. I have been doing this for years. I make the cradles nice and clean so the painting fits flush against the wall with or without a frame. (my work does not need to be framed for show)

Answer 5

any wood just stand back and look there is lots off things to paint or draw.

Answer 6

i like to use sipras wood to paint on cb

Answer 7

I use whats cheap and readily available... also needs to be smooth you could use mdf depending on the project

Answer 8

masonite and particle board - at varying thicknesses.