Artboards, Paper, & Canvas, Oh My!

A look at the different surfaces artists use to create their artwork.

Canvases leaning against Allion’s studio wall.

A wide variety of surfaces (or substrates) can be used to create art, each with unique characteristics and qualities. From traditional canvases and paper to unconventional materials like wood and metal, the choice of surface can greatly influence the final result. Artists also make this choice based on a variety of personal reasons. Here, I'll explore some of the different types of surfaces that artists can use to create their work.

Canvas is the most popular and well-known surface for creating art. Typically, it is made from cotton or linen and stretched over a wooden frame called a stretcher-bar. There are many different mediums that can be applied to canvas, including oil paint, acrylic paint, and even collage. Canvas is not something I use very often, but I have experimented with it. When I use canvas, I prefer not to stretch it and work without a frame. My preferred surface is one that doesn't give or bounce when I am working.

Handmade paper

Paper is another surface commonly used for creating art, as well as my favorite. In addition to being versatile and relatively inexpensive, this material comes in a variety of textures, weights, and colors, and can be used with a variety of media. Paper's variety as well as its feel in my hands and when I'm working with it are what attracts me to it. Easily cut, folded, and manipulated, it can create a variety of unique effects.

A wood surface adds a natural element to art, making it a unique medium for creating art. In addition to serving as a support for paintings, wood can be carved, burned, or otherwise manipulated to create three-dimensional artworks. It can be painted with oil paints, acrylic paints, and even encaustic (wax) paintings. As part of my recent work, I've begun to use wood artboards or panels. Artboards have a smooth, hard, wood surface that allows me to have a lot of control over the texture.

Another unique surface for creating art is metal. It can be polished to a shine or leave it rough and unpolished for an industrial look. Like wood, metal can be used as a support for paintings or sculptures, or it can be worked in three dimensions. Painting or other media can have trouble adhering to metal's slick surface, making it a challenging material to work with. The right techniques and mediums, however, can produce striking and unique results.

These are just a few of the surfaces that artists can use to create their artwork. There are many more including glass and mirrors, which I use to create mixed-media collages. Artists choose to work on different surfaces for many different reasons.

Allison’s abstract collage White Horizon uses a broken mirror for the surface.

Asking artists why they chose the surfaces they did is a great way to learn more about them and their work!