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Michael Georges · 01-09-2003, 01:17 PM

Hello Meredith:

Thanks for your post!

Windberg panels are commercially available panels for artists. Windberg panels are known for their "surface tooth". They are getting harder and harder to find and I believe they are no longer making them. So I make my own.

Masonite is at your local Home Depot or Lowes - I prefer Lowes as they seem to have a better selection, and you can sometimes find an actual human to help you.

If you find yourself in the incapable hands of another salesperson who does not know what you are talking about, tell them to take you to the pegboard. Pegboard is Masonite with holes. In that area, there should be sheets of Masonite without the holes and that is what you want. I find mine in bins that also contain birch plywood, regular plywood, and particle board. I buy pieces that are 2' x 4' and the occasional 4' x 4'sheet. They have a saw there and they will be able to cut it for you while you wait.

I sand the surface of the Masonite by hand with very rough sand paper on a block. The idea is to rough up the surface to help create a mechanical bond for the first coat of gesso to cling to, and a finishing sander will make it too smooth for my liking. I really scrub into it.

I sand the gesso with a wet block first and then a finishing sander with 100 grit paper on it to get it smooth. All of the gesso is applied with a foam roller, but I have two - one to apply the gesso and the other to roll out the last coat.

Hope that helps!

01-09-2003, 01:17 PM	#7
Michael Georges PAINTING PORTRAITS FROM LIFE MODERATOR FT Professional Joined: Nov 2001 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 846	Hello Meredith: Thanks for your post! Windberg panels are commercially available panels for artists. Windberg panels are known for their "surface tooth". They are getting harder and harder to find and I believe they are no longer making them. So I make my own. Masonite is at your local Home Depot or Lowes - I prefer Lowes as they seem to have a better selection, and you can sometimes find an actual human to help you. If you find yourself in the incapable hands of another salesperson who does not know what you are talking about, tell them to take you to the pegboard. Pegboard is Masonite with holes. In that area, there should be sheets of Masonite without the holes and that is what you want. I find mine in bins that also contain birch plywood, regular plywood, and particle board. I buy pieces that are 2' x 4' and the occasional 4' x 4'sheet. They have a saw there and they will be able to cut it for you while you wait. I sand the surface of the Masonite by hand with very rough sand paper on a block. The idea is to rough up the surface to help create a mechanical bond for the first coat of gesso to cling to, and a finishing sander will make it too smooth for my liking. I really scrub into it. I sand the gesso with a wet block first and then a finishing sander with 100 grit paper on it to get it smooth. All of the gesso is applied with a foam roller, but I have two - one to apply the gesso and the other to roll out the last coat. Hope that helps! __________________ Michael Georges www.fineportraitsinoil.com Michael's Life Drawing & Painting Blog Regular and consistent work from life will improve your portraits. Drawing skills are the foundation of all an artist does.