Favorite panels and suppliers?
 

I'm wanting to try out some archival panel supports rather than the stretched linen/canvas that I've been using up 'til now.

Have just ordered a couple of RealGesso Linen Panels and a couple of New Traditions Dibond Portrait Linen panels. Was wondering if anyone else who's tried these might share what your experience has been?

Also, please share if there is a different panel you would recommend...

Thanks!

Terri, you are in for a treat, if you like panels, that is.

I've used gessoed panels from realgesso and I love them. The linen/board samples I've seen look great to me, though I haven't done a painting on one yet.

I've tried the New Traditions linen panels bonded to Gatorfoam; I love them, too. When I use them I put masking tape along the Gatorfoam edge to keep paint from getting on the foam and looking messy. Gatorfoam panels are dentable and dingable so be careful. NT also makes linen/birch panels and linen/Dibond panels (aluminum), neither of which I've tried but I'd like to.

Both companies offer great service.

Here are the sites if anyone doesn't know about them:

www.realgesso.com

www.newtraditionsartpanels.com

I have a question about these panels. Is the cradle necessary? I could see why really large ones may need it for support on the back but am not sure why smaller panels would need it at all.

I ordered a few various panels, I didn't get any of them cradled since there was such a difference in price and all I wanted at this point was to try them out. I did order one fairly large one, a 24 x 36 and I can see that it might have a tendency to bow a bit, but wouldn't that be taken care of once in a frame? Also, looking at the images of the cradled panels, how do you frame that?

Mary,

I have used 24 x 36 NT panels without concern about bowing, They are mounted on 1/2" Gatorboard, so they are quite stiff and very lightweight.

However, if a panel mfr recommends cradling after a certain size, I would think there is good reason. Depending on how deep the cradle is, you can probably solve the depth problem with a frame that has a "back-'up" or 'extra depth" silhouette.

Linda, I haven't painted on a panel in over 20 years... so am not sure if I'll like the feel of it or not! Guess I'm looking for a 'ready-to-paint' surface that is of consistent quality, archival, reasonably priced, and easy to frame. (Not to hard to please am I :bewildere :) ) I just don't want to be spending time prepping canvases any more, or worrying about the canvas losing tautness or bouncing around once the painting is on it. Looking for something more stable.... I've ordered the Dibond panels from NT, but I'm curious about your comment regarding putting masking tape on the edges -- is the canvas not wrapped around the support?

Mary, there is a very large difference in price for the RealGesso cradles. I was also concerned about how heavy the ones with cradles might be...? On their website forum (here) , they recommend the cradling for the linen panels for anything larger than 16x20, to prevent cupping they say.... and they say that the cradling won't interfere with framing. Someone asked, here , wouldn't the frame serve as a cradle, and they responded, yes if it was properly framed.

I'm still a little apprehensive myself about ordering larger than the 16x20 because am thinking that must be very heavy with the cradles.... The samples I ordered (for both the realgesso and the New Traditions were 12x16... so didn't get into the cradling thing). If anyone has used the cradles would love to hear about your experience?

Chris - have you, or would you feel comfortable, using the gator board panels for commissioned work?

Over the past two+ years the ONLY panels I have used for commission work are the new traditions, and panels I have made mounting Wallis paper to Masonite.

Thanks Chris-- that's a ringing endorsement! :)

The TX Lady I just painted was on a Realgesso cradled panel - 20x30. I had a non-cradled at first and it does have a slight cup to it - which would be fine once in a frame, but I didnt want to present it to the client that way. The cradle doesnt go all the way to the edges so it doesn't interfere with framing. I really enjoyed this, but next time I will seal it with some thinned titanium first because it does suck up the first layer.

Kim, was it much heavier with the cradle?

Terri,

A friend of mine is a carpenter and he is making my panels for me. He felt that anything over the 16x20 needed cradleing so I'm letting him be the judge. I like the meditative quality of gessoing my own, and after seeing the prices of the Realgesso and New Traditions, I felt this was the way to go for me. Plus, I will have many panels that I can put linen, canvas, or sand to that ivory finish for oil or pastels.

Jean