Tutorials, videos, tips & techniques
Learn techniques from professional artists, follow art tutorials, watch videos, and more.
Shary Bartlett: India ink and encaustic on Encausticbord
Watch this time-lapse of Shary Bartlett apply encaustic and India ink on Encausticbord. 8x8, Paisley Phrase
Read more … Shary Bartlett: India ink and encaustic on Encausticbord
Framing Pastelbord
We recommend all pastels be framed under glass. The glass protects the fragile nature of the pastels while also keeping their colors true to life.
Sealing and varnishing Ampersand panels
Sealing and varnishing finished artwork on Ampersand panels is extremely important especially when framing without glass. See our list of suggestions for sealing and varnishing popular mediums using products we have successfully tested on our panels.
Ideas for finishing cradled edges
Thinking both about the versatility of wood and the creativity of art materials, we composed a list of ways to finish the cradled edges of our panels.
How to paint, stain, or wax the cradle
See ideas and learn the best practices to paint, stain, or wax Ampersand cradles.
Painting on panel: Cradling and supports
Only Ampersand builds their cradles by hand with premium grade 13-ply birch plywood for maximum stability and a clean, finished look from edge to edge.
Priming wood panels with acrylic gesso or oil grounds
Commonly, artists ask us if unprimed wood panels need to be sealed. Except for encaustics, the answer is Yes.
Read more … Priming wood panels with acrylic gesso or oil grounds
Hanging hardware options for wood panels
Ampersand Floaterframes are the perfect solution for displaying artwork. However, if you prefer to display your panel without a frame, we have some helpful tips.
Mixed media on Encausticbord
Professional encaustic painters attest to how exceptionally well Encausticbord works when used alone with encaustic paint or in combination with a wide variety of mixed media techniques including collage, oil paints and oil sticks, image transfers, and incising.
Mixed media on Encausticbord
Only Encausticbord has a ready-to-use surface formulated for the unique demands of encaustic painting and mixed media. Encaustic gesso is applied to Ampersand's sealed Hardbord panel to form a bright, smooth, and velvety surface that is ready to use with the ancient technique of encaustic painting.
Acrylic on Primed Canvas Texture
The Artist Panel Primed Canvas Texture is a perfect choice for acrylic painters that want all the benefits of a panel but enjoy painting on a surface with a traditional canvas texture.
Oil on Primed Canvas Texture
The Artist Panel Primed Canvas Texture is a perfect choice for oil painters that want all the benefits of a panel but enjoy painting on a surface with a traditional canvas texture.
Gouache and watercolor on Aquabord
Developed for the unique demands of watercolor painting, Aquabord has a wonderful texture similar to cold-pressed watercolor paper. Watercolorists and gouache painters love painting on Aquabord for many reasons.
Acrylic on Aquabord
Aquabord is a great surface for acrylics. Its heavily textured surface offers great adhesion with washes and layering. Because of the high absorbency of Aquabord, acrylic paint soaks in and dries very quickly when painting in thin washes.
Introduction to Ampersand Birch Wood Panel
An informational video showcasing the features and benefits of the Ampersand Birch Wood Panel featuring a fun collage project.
Introduction to Ampersand Aquabord
Watercolorists and gouache painters love painting on Aquabord because colors are more vibrant than on paper and it allows for exciting techniques simply not possible on paper. Watch this video to learn more about this amazing watercolor panel.
