Before mixing your oil colours, it’s worth spending a little time thinking about the type of surface you intend to put the colours on. The most common surface for oil colours, and one that has been used for centuries, is stretched, primed canvas. Alternatives include wood panels and medium density fibreboard (MDF), which last a long time and will not bend. If you are thinking of working in the great outdoors then canvas boards may prove a sound investment. Winton Oil Colour pads are a popular choice for sketching and outdoor painting.
Canvas
Artists have been using canvas for more than 300 years, so it comes highly recommended. The weave of the cloth, combined with the spring of the stretched material, makes it excellent for oil painting. Canvas is often made from linen or cotton. Although linen is difficult to prime and stretch properly, it offers the smoothest and stiffest painting surface. It lasts many years, and is still regarded as the gold standard by classically trained artists. Cotton, on the other hand, is more affordable than linen and is easier to stretch. Take a look at our guide to the difference between cotton and linen canvas for more information.
Canvas Boards
For those painting outdoors, canvas boards have always been a popular choice, taking up less room than stretched canvases and less easily damaged. Winsor & Newton canvas boards are made from substantial board and high quality cloth, making them superior in quality to coated sketching boards. Boards can also be cheaper to frame than canvases.
Papers
No matter what you may have heard, it is perfectly possible to use paper for oil painting. Winsor & Newton oil paper is formulated to withstand thick, layered paint applications and comes ready-to-use, not requiring any priming or preparation. Another alternative is using heavy watercolour paper that has been thinly primed with an acrylic gesso primer.
