Discover five reasons why handcrafted painting panels transform how you paint. Learn why locally made art supplies offer richer texture, better longevity, and a deeper creative connection.
There’s something about working on a handcrafted painting panel that mass-produced canvases can’t imitate. The weight, the texture, the way your brush glides across the surface just feels alive.
When I paint on something built by hand, I’m not just painting on a surface. I’m collaborating with it. I can feel the rhythm of whoever sanded the wood, mounted the linen, and brushed on the primer. That connection to material, to the people behind it, is what makes painting feel human again.
1. You Can Feel the Difference
If you’ve ever used a cheap, factory-made canvas, you certainly would need to have it framed if you wanted to present it. I’ve done all the tricks when I was a student. I would paint the sides, which helps. I would hunt down old picture frames in the thrift store and recycle them. This works, but the beautiful thing about Handcrafted painting panels is that they already look beautiful. You can hang them on the wall as is, and you can’t see any staples or folds in the fabric. Just a clean-cut wooden edge. If you are a messy painter, you can simply put painter’s tape around the wooden edges to protect them.
I have had many beautiful paintings ruined by the fragility of stretched cotton canvas, either by the frames warping or the canvas getting dented. It is possible to create a beautiful work of art on a mass-produced canvas, but I have learned I am personally too rough on materials, and it isn’t worth the risk.
I soon stopped painting on stretched cotton canvas altogether. I started buying pre-gessoed pine panels for my oil paintings. These work just fine and are more durable than stretched cotton canvas. Pine wood is soft and can easily dent and warp, but the surface is more sturdy than canvas stretched on a frame. Believe it or not, I still recommend using these for practice. These Phoenix Gesso Boards, for example, are more durable than stretch canvas, and can be stacked up for easy storage when they dry, and cost less than $10 a piece in the 4-pack. They are perfect for studies.
However, if you are making something special that you want to last, the premium standard is hardwood, such as birch, sealed to prevent warping. I love the smooth texture of fine Belgian linen, but instead of being stretched on a frame, it is mounted to a sturdy hardwood panel. The surface feels buttery under the brush. There is a toothy texture from the gesso or oil ground, but the weave of the fabric is finer than cotton.
2. Locally Made Means Quality You Can See
There’s a certain magic in locally made art supplies. When you know who built your panel. When you’ve seen their workspace or shared a cup of coffee while they talk about why hardwood is superior to pine, and the difference between cotton canvas and fine Belgian linen. When you care about something you are creating so much that you want to use the highest quality materials made by someone who has put in the care and experience to make it last for years.
You see the process: cutting, sanding, sealing, and priming by hand. Each panel has its own fingerprint. The care and pace of local craftsmanship give your art a foundation that feels personal, deliberate, and sustainable.
Golden Acrylic Gel Gloss Medium is what I use for adhesion when working on wood and linen panels. It’s acid-free, dries clear, and lasts forever.
3. A Surface That Holds Memory
Each handcrafted painting panel carries a human touch, giving every board the energy of intention.
The materials used to create the panels were researched to be sure the boards are durable and archival. Every panel is assembled and inspected by a lifelong oil painter for quality, ensuring it’s ready for your best work. That care, that human presence, is what sets these surfaces apart.
Painting on a locally made surface adds that chapter to the ongoing story. The panel remembers the hands that built it, the rhythm of the workspace, and the care that shaped it into what it is. It’s archival and intimate, which cannot be replicated by mass-produced products.
4. Artists Deserve Materials That Last
A painting surface is the architecture of your art. A handcrafted painting panel is built to last because it is sealed against moisture, primed with care, and grounded for longevity.
Your brushwork holds your expression, your glazes sit more evenly, and your colors will stay luminous for decades. When you use locally made art panels, you’re choosing permanence.
It’s about luxury and integrity. If you want your work to survive, start with something that’s designed to.
5. Supporting Local Makers Strengthens our Community
Buying locally made art supplies means your money supports the very community that feeds your creativity. It’s about connection, which is also convenient.
The craft knowledge that built these panels lives in people’s hands. When you support local makers, you’re helping keep that lineage alive.
If you’d like to learn more about the different surfaces, including acrylic and oil-primed linen and rigid watercolor boards, visit our Surface Guide here.
Why I’ll Always Choose Handmade for My Fine Art
When I brush paint across a linen panel that’s been sanded and primed by hand, it feels alive. It’s a beautiful surface that gives back what you put into it.
That tactile, almost sensual exchange is the reason I’ll always choose handcrafted painting panels over mass-produced alternatives. Every mark feels intentional, and every layer feels earned.
Choosing local is respect for the craft, the process, and the artists who still build things that matter.
So next time you reach for a panel, notice the weight in your hand. The smooth grain beneath your fingers. That’s what connection feels like.
Curious what it feels like to paint on a handcrafted surface?
Visit our studio or explore our handcrafted painting panels that are made locally, built to last.
