Some artists prefer to use oil paints on masonite rather than canvas.
Oil paints offer an artist long-lasting color brightness over other mediums. Known as a traditional painting medium, artists prize oils for their versatility and potential for use on many different surfaces. While some surfaces are more common than others are or have particular qualities, gesso and other mediums give an artist the ability to paint on a wide variety of different surfaces.
Canvas
Canvas is a well-known surface for oil painting. It is favored because it is lightweight, portable, resists cracking and is easy to repair. Canvas works well for painting as it has an even weave and made from different materials, such as linen, cotton and polyester. Some artists typically prime a canvas with acrylic gesso suited for oils. Priming creates an even surface for painting and some artists often prime fine or small paintings more than once.
Wood
Wood expands and contracts in varying temperatures and climates. Oil paint is flexible and has the ability to adapt to these changes on wood's surface. Unfinished wood is an ideal and inexpensive surface for painting, although wood needs to be seasoned and dried to be a good painting surface. An artist can cover the texture of wood with paint or allow the texture to sadd interest to a painting. In the 15th and 16th centuries, wood panels were the most common surfaces for oil paintings.
Copper
Although most modern artists do not paint on copper, small copper panels were relatively common as a painting medium in the past. An artist may have difficulty painting on copper because it lacks the texture to grip paint that other surfaces have, but copper also has many virtues. Copper panels show very little cracking over time, as canvas or wood panels can, are very stable and do not deteriorate due to humidity or factors such as mold. Copper paintings also have a luminous quality that other surfaces lack.
Other Surfaces
Artists may prime many surfaces for use in oil painting. Gypsum, oil and acrylic gesso are all primers. Artists must mount soft or pliable surfaces, such as leather or parchment, to a sturdier surface, like a board, before painting. Some surfaces, however are unsuitable for oil paintings regardless of preparation. Paper deteriorates quickly and artists only use paper for oil painting as a practice surface.
