Mission statement
We are grounded in our deep passion for the time-honored tradition of panel painting and the expansion of artworks created on panel. We are committed to empowering artists to create enduring artworks by developing and manufacturing innovative and superior quality surfaces and complementary products that nurture, inspire, and elevate creativity.
Archival protection by Ampersand
The preparation beneath a painting ground is essential to the longevity of the artwork.
Every coated Museum Series panel features our proprietary Archiva-Seal™ barrier technology to protect against support-induced discoloration—the staining that can occur when compounds naturally present in wood migrate into painting layers.
Our multi-step process encapsulates wood fibers, creates a smooth foundation, and forms a heat-cured barrier between the wood and painting ground. This preparation improves moisture resistance and provides a strong bond for our specialized grounds.
Archiva-Seal protection now extends to both sides of our Museum Series coated panels, enhancing stability and creating a more balanced panel. It builds on the professional archival standards these panels have always met.
Learn more about Ampersand Archiva-Seal™.
Why artists prefer panel
- No canvas weave or stretcher bar marks
- Colors are more luminous and brighter on panels
- Rigid surfaces offer superior line control
- Outlasts flexible surfaces like canvas and paper
- Less susceptible to cracking than canvas
- Supports heavy layers of paint and mixed media
Ampersand painting panels provide a rigid, archival support with specialized grounds for different media and techniques. Unlike stretched canvas, they require no stretching or tightening and offer a choice of surface textures for detailed brushwork and heavy paint applications.
What types of painting panels does Ampersand offer?
Museum Series: Our premium, archival surfaces combine Hardbord™ with proprietary Archiva-Seal™ protection and specialized, acid-free coatings. Cradled profiles feature premium 13-ply birch plywood supports.
Value Series: Versatile, ready-to-paint panels with smooth or canvas-textured grounds for everyday painting, studies, classes, and workshops.
Unprimed panels: Quality wood surfaces, including Hardbord™, Unprimed Basswood, and Woodpanel, for artists who prefer to seal, prime, and fully prepare their own painting surface. Sealing and priming wood panels.
Does Ampersand make frames for finished artwork?
Our Floaterframes and Duoframes offer different ways to display your work. Floaterframes leave a space around the artwork’s edges, while Duoframes offer window-mount and float-mount options.
