Introduction
When I first started painting, I used store-bought canvases and cradled panels. As time went on, however, the costs started to add up and so I sought a more sustainable option. I settled on making my own DIY panels using a process I described in a recent journal post (How I Prepare My Painting Surfaces).
Of course, no such change is without trade-offs. Here, I discuss some of the benefits and costs for you to consider if you are thinking about making the same change.
The BENEFITS
1) Affordability
I calculated the costs of DIY panels vs. store-bought surfaces using prices from my local art supply shops (for canvases) and building supply stores (for DIY panel materials). If you look at the graph I made from these estimates (above), making my own panels is ~ 65% cheaper than buying store-bought ones.
2) Higher Quality Control
Homemade panels are, in my experience, more durable and more amenable to the ways I like to paint. I appreciate not fighting against the texture of canvases, especially when I’m trying to layer on some fine detail, though I know for some artists this is a feature of painting on canvas rather than a bug. We’ll chalk this one up to personal preference.
3) Custom Sizes
I like working on a variety of surface sizes and shapes, and to this end DIY panels are especially flexible. Moreover, I’ve had times where I realized the final painting might work better if I crop it differently. This is easy with a DIY panel – I simply take it out to the workshop (after it’s dry) and trim the edges as needed to fit my revised dimensions.
4) Freedom to Experiment
Experimenting with new ideas or techniques is essential to my practice, but the thought of potentially wasting a store-bought canvas on an exploratory piece used to give me pause. Not so with a DIY panel. They’re so comparatively inexpensive that I feel quite comfortable taking creative risks.
5) Compatibility with Ready-Made Frames
At this point in my practice, I make all of my own frames. But there was a time when I would scour the internet for fancy or vintage frames to put my pieces in. One thing I learned from this experience is that vintage frames especially rarely adhere to the standard dimensions currently available in store-bought canvases. DIY panels offered a solution to this issue as I was able to pre-cut my panel to whatever odd dimensions were needed to fit the frame.
The COSTS
1) Upfront investment
Tools are expensive and take up space. A decent, new table saw and finishing blade can cost between $400-600 CAD, though you can sometimes get great deals on pre-owned saws. Fortunately, if you’re mainly using it for panels or other small projects you shouldn’t ever have to replace it or do any maintenance, other than dusting it off when you’re done or replacing the blade.
2) Table saw safety
I grew up in a family of craftsmen and know woodworkers missing finger tips from momentary lapses using power tools. Given the important role fingers play in making art, I highly recommend you become educated about the safe use of power tools if you plan to take the DIY route. You can learn online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfiqPlC6Ltg), learn from an experienced friend, or attend a beginner woodworking class in your local area.
3) Practice makes perfect
Fortunately, cutting DIY panels is fairly straightforward as far as wood working projects go. But even still, if you’re new to it, it may take some practice to get clean, consistent results. My advice: measure twice and take your time. Pro-tip: to get a clean cut on plywood, keep your table saw blade low. No more than three teeth should be showing when you take a side view of your panel on the saw.
4) Space & Mess
You’ll need a dedicated cutting area. Don’t do what I did when I first started and cut frames and panels in your painting studio. You’ll never see the end of that sawdust; it will linger and eventually settle in your varnish even after you think you’ve vanquished it from your studio. Short of having a workshop, your best option is to choose a nice day and do it in your yard or driveway.
5) Time-Consuming Prep
Time is perhaps the biggest cost to DIY panels. While the cutting is fast, preparing the DIY panels to receive paint takes time and effort, as well as space in your studio to sealing, oil ground or Gesso application, and drying (Note: oil ground can take up to 10 days to dry).
6) Framing
This is the big issue. The biggest advantage store-bought frames and panels have is that they come essentially ready-to-hang, even if they aren’t framed. The DIY panels are just a flat piece of plywood and thus require some kind of frame or cradling if they are to be exhibited or sold. This issue led me to develop my own framing process to accommodate my use of DIY panels. DIY framing is something I’ll be discussing in detail in a forthcoming journal post (Spoiler: they’re also substantially less expensive than store-bought frames and can be much higher in quality).
Conclusion
The choice of what surfaces to paint on is ultimately a personal one, and cost is only one factor in the decision. While the savings are nice, I also just prefer painting on smooth panels rather than fighting the texture of canvas. And, since I’m experienced in and enjoy wood-working, the choice was quite easy for me. I wish you the best in your painting and (perhaps) imminent DIY panel adventure.
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