{"id":22067,"date":"2014-10-07T17:03:13","date_gmt":"2014-10-07T16:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/?p=22067"},"modified":"2026-03-31T15:24:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T14:24:25","slug":"ampersand-painting-panels-extraordinary-surfaces-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jacksonsart.com\/blog\/2014\/10\/07\/ampersand-painting-panels-extraordinary-surfaces-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Ampersand Painting Panels are Extraordinary Surfaces for Your Art"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Ampersand<\/a><\/p>\n

Ampersand Painting Panels<\/a><\/p>\n

So many of our customers have asked us to stock Ampersand Panels and we knew they were of such good quality that we\u2019ve been trying to get them in the UK for years. We are very pleased to now have Ampersand Artist Surfaces at Jackson\u2019s!<\/p>\n

Ampersand Painting Panels are extraordinary surfaces for your art. Ampersand began to create permanent art surfaces for artists 20 years ago. They manufacture an array of archivally prepared panels for painting in oils, acrylics, watercolour, encaustic, pastels, mixed media and more. The surface is extraordinary and the robust structure is impressive. With the watercolour panel Aquabord, you can paint as wet as you like without any cockling, can wipe back to pure white and when varnished the watercolour painting can be displayed without glass! On the Pastelbord the pastel ground is toothy enough to hold many layers of pastel colour, erases well and is waterproof. For oil and acrylic painting the Gessobord and Claybord offer very different amounts of absorbency.<\/p>\n

The Museum Series Panels have the high quality required by professional artists, while the Value Series Artist Panels are designed to introduce panel painting to artists, hobbyists, and students at an affordable price. Conservators agree that a painting on a well-prepared rigid support will outlast those on a flexible surface such as stretched canvas.<\/p>\n

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Cradling<\/h5>\n
\"Ampersand<\/a>
Ampersand plywood cradles<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cradling is the bracing frame bars attached to the back of the panel. A cradled back increases the stability of the panel and allows you to attach hanging hardware and display your artwork easily, without a frame. All of the Ampersand panels are available uncradled (a flat panel with no wood bars), and some are available cradled in two depths: 22mm and 38mm. Ampersand\u2019s premium plywood cradles are superior to any solid wood stretcher bar; their even-ply construction eliminates warping.<\/p>\n

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Museum Series Panels:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Museum Series Panels use premium hardboard, archivally sealed and prepared with different acid-free surface coatings for use with a variety of media from oils to watercolours. The unique \u2018archival seal technology\u2019 is a barrier created between the hardboard and the painting surface that prevents migration from the board to the painting that may discolour it.<\/p>\n

Premium Hardbord is the base for all the coated panels. It is a solid core panel that is more stable than MDF with the highest density and least amount of linear expansion of any engineered or solid wood panel. The hardboard does not contain harmful oils, additives or formaldehyde.<\/p>\n

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Claybord<\/h5>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a><\/p>\n

Claybord<\/strong><\/a> is an absorbent surface for ink and a variety of mixed media. There are so many possibilities. The surface is similar in paintability to the clay gesso grounds used during the Renaissance and is the best choice for traditional egg tempera. The surface is sanded to an ultra-smooth, highly absorbent finish. Available uncradled and in both cradled depths in sizes 5×7 to 18×24 inches.<\/p>\n

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Gessobord<\/h5>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a><\/p>\n

Gessobord<\/strong><\/a> has a slight tooth for oil and acrylics. The surface allows very soft blending without the interference of canvas texture. The firm, rigid surface is well suited to collage and mounting of papers and fabrics onto the board. Available uncradled and in both cradled depths in sizes 5×7 to 18×24 inches.<\/p>\n

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Comparing oil painting on Gessobord and Claybord<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gessobord has a less-absorbent surface to allow you to achieve familiar, longer brush strokes and blending time. Oil colours on Gessobord retain their glossy finish. Oils dry more slowly on Gessobord, allowing for more blending time and wet-into-wet techniques.
\nClaybord is absorbent like the powdery chalk gessoes of the Renaissance, perfect for indirect glazing techniques. Brush marks on Claybord are shorter and dry to a matte finish in initial layers, oils sink into a flat, matte sheen.<\/p>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a>
Scott Gellatly
Over Union Bay
oil on Gessobord, 12″x12″, 2006
www.scottgellatly.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Aquabord<\/h5>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a><\/p>\n

Aquabord<\/strong><\/a> for watercolours allows you to spray varnish your watercolour painting and display it without the need for glass. This amazing archival panel absorbs water like a fine paper. The unique surface allows you to lift colours back to pure white, makes colours brilliant and provides unprecedented control over watercolour applications. Available uncradled and cradled in 22mm depth in sizes 5×7 to 16×20 inches.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/a>
Steve Hanks
Love Like a Sunset
watercolour on Aquabord, 35″x52″, 2012
www.stevehanks.info<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pastelbord<\/h5>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a><\/p>\n

Pastelbord<\/strong><\/a> is a clay coated panel with an even marble dust finish, available in white or grey. It has a toothy surface that is great for layering and layering pastels, it is waterproof and is also a favourite of acrylic painters because it leaves the acrylics open for longer and allows blends that you cannot achieve on canvas. It is also great for coloured pencil and charcoal. Only available uncradled in sizes 5×7 to 16×20 inches. These panels have a slightly beveled edge.<\/p>\n

\"Ampersand<\/a>
Donna Slade
Shooters (Detail), colour pencil on
Pastelbord, 8×19″, 2012
www.donnasladeart.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n