What is a canvas panel?

Canvas panels are thin wood or cardboard with cotton canvas stretched over them and affixed at the back.  The canvas part has been primed with gesso so that it can be painted on with oil or acrylic and the artist does not have to "prepare" the canvas before beginning his painting.  This eliminates time and effort.  They are not only an inexpensive, time saving option for artists, who are typically on a strict budget, they are also narrow and easy to store, pack, travel with, display and ship.  And artist can place twenty five of them in a display so customers can easily flip through them to find a painting they like.  Additionally, they are an excellent option for landscape painters who paint "en plein air" which is a fancy expression for "outside on location."  A normal stretched canvas sitting on an easel would allow light to filter through it altering the appearance of the artwork.  An artists wants to see the light from the front, not have it shining through the canvas from the back, which would interfere with the artists ability to paint properly. Many artists choose canvas panels for these reasons.

Canvas panels come in a variation of qualities, like any product. (For instance, some are made on the cheapest cardboard or thin cotton or only have one layer of gesso.)  I use top quality panels.  The following is directly from my supplier.

Thicker\stronger canvas:

We use 7 Oz Triple Primed canvas- thicker, stronger and more durable than any of our competitors. (Most competitors sell you 3-5 oz canvas- Ours is nearly twice as thick)

Solid Board:

The same fine cotton canvas described above comes mounted on solid 1/8" Thick board, to allow for maximum strength and stability.

Triple Primed:

All canvas is coated with 3 layers of gesso, making it ready to paint on and smoothing the surface for medium-smooth texture. 

Perfect Angles:

We use machinist accuracy in creating perfect 90 degree angles.

What is "Stretched Canvas" or "Gallery Wrap?"

Canvas is actually a fabric.  It's finely woven cotton. It comes in rolls or sheets. Think of a paper towel roll or a roll of fabric one may buy to make curtains.  A portion is cut off to the size desired.  Stretched canvas means that it has been stretched around a basic wooden stabilizing "frame."  This is not a frame on the outside.  It means it's been stretched and secured on wood bars instead of the artist rolling it out, cutting of the size he wants and painting on the fabric, unstretched.  This is also referred to as "Gallery Wrap."  If you are on a website and the listing says "no frame" check carefully.  Your painting may arrive in a cardboard shipping cylinder like a poster would be rolled and shipped.  This makes it easy and cheap to ship, but then you will have to take it somewhere and have it stretched and secured so it can be hung.  Many paintings are sold this way online because it is so cheap.    I want my client's painting ready to hang right then when it arrives.

What is Arches Oil Paper?

This is a high quality "paper" Similar to "sketchbook" paper which is actually a 100% cotton fabric.  It is specifically made for use with oil paint and pastels by Arches Huile, a well known artist supplier in France.  I have paintied a lot of paintings on canvas panel.  I love them.  But, I want my new landscapes to be matted. I am using this paper so that it can be easily matted and placed in a much larger frame which gives them a grand appearance. Matting and backing are costly so these are priced accordingly.

Materials: Paints and Brushes

I use all kinds of brushes.  Expensive ones, cheap ones, whatever I can get my hands on.  I have an ample supply of a variety of name brands and some no name.  I also have a selection of professional palette knives:  ArtistLoft, Blick, New Age from Italy and a few from Martha Stewart and Home Depot.

My acrylic paints are mostly Amsterdam Brand.

My oil paints are from Gamblin, Windsor Newton and a few from Van Gogh.  I use Gamblin Gloss Varnish and Linseed and Poppyseed oils.

I get my D hooks online at Amazon and my wire and screws and nails from Home Depot. Honestly, I don't know what brand.  They work with my paintings.  I don't ask questions.