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heather self2

Heather Love

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Has anyone else had a problem with these recently?   Not sure whether I have a faulty batch or just a one-off problem but the latest board I'm using is very 'grainy and bumpy' and is taking a lot of paint to cover and trying to get clean lines has proven really difficult.   Am more than half way through something so I don't want to give up and start again.  Not much I can do about it I know but just wanted to see if anyone else had had a problem and perhaps I should change canvas boards in the future?
IMG_0347

John Graham Inkson

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Heather I use Loxley canvas boards ( cheaper than W&N as well.) from Art discount. I Buy a box off 24. But you do not have to buy that many.  Never had a problem with them. At one time I used to go to B&Q and they would cut up hardboard for me to the sizes I required. You do detailed work so a smooth surface is very appropriate I would have thought. 
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Were these medium grain, or did you inadvertently buy rough grain?  I tend to use Loxley boards, or Ampersand - the first being canvas board, the second a very rigid hardboard-like surface which is good for oils, but with which I had a whole lot of trouble when using acrylics.  If your board is indeed too lumpy, another coat, or two coats, of acrylic primer (described as 'gesso', though of course it isn't!) should help.  I use the Daler-Rowney brand for preference.   Winsor and Newton is no longer a British company, and much of its production has shifted, I understand, overseas.  This may account for the difference in surface quality - but that's a guess. 
ian g craig

Ian Gordon Craig

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Hi Heather. I have always found W & N more textured than Daler-Rowney. And the primed surface doesn't seem quite so well prepared. I usually use acrylics on A3 canvas boards, oils when going larger than that. I think Daler-Rowney boards much superior in all aspects.

Tessa Gwynne

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I’ve used both with no problem. I do use mostly Loxley, as has been said they are cheaper although not a lot in it. However more recently, and in returning to traditional oils, I’ve been using MDF boards (much discussion on this on another previous thread) and if you like smooth I’d say this is the answer, or one answer at least.
heather self2

Heather Love

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Thanks everyone.  I think I'm going to definitely switch and try the Daler-Rowney and the others you have all mentioned.   So frustrating at the moment!  I guess you'll see the results shortly but be warned don't look to close!

Alan Bickley

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Most of the ‘cheaper’ canvas boards such as the brands mentioned are on compressed cardboard, adequate but by no means top grade. I’ve been trying out some boards from Royal Talens, premium quality primed canvas on rigid MDF, and been impressed. Generally though, my preference is to use 3mm MDF with three coats of gesso applied. However, Jackson’s offer good quality boards on MDF, and with a choice of canvas or linen, and in different grades to suit your preference. Somewhat expensive perhaps, but well worth trying.
heather self2

Heather Love

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Thanks Alan, I shall look into this.

Sylvia Evans

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Gerstacker do very splendid boards in box format ,super gessoed finish , beautifully smooth....love em . Get mine from Great Art.
heather self2

Heather Love

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Thanks Sylvia

Peter Davison

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Like Alan I tend to use MDF liberally primed with at least three coats and a coloured ground and don't have problems with that. Are you priming your W&N canvas boards but my experience with such boards is that they need it despite being sold as 'ready primed'. The factory primer has sometimes been too 'slippy' for painting in my experience. I also add calcite (chalk) to my primer coats to increase the absorbency and maybe that might help, I know of some who use Polyfilla powder for the same purpose!

Sylvia Evans

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I quite understand people buying cut MDF and going threw  all the prep process  im also quite sure they look just as good as the bought equivalent and cheaper.   Though the block ready mades eliminate framing...though you can still frame if you wish.   Coming from the angle of being wee bit older and dare I say it female ( no cracks please) .plus very time short , to buy a beautifully prepared board is a complete treat ...I just go paint and get on with it.   So two relevant points of view .  No I don’t own shares in any board company ....🙃

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by Sylvia Evans

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