Save money and learn how to make your own professional looking hardboard panels. In this video demonstration, I will show you just how easy it is.
I learned how to easily mount linen or canvas on hardboard last month while painting with master artist, T. Allen Lawson.
The supplies you will need:Â
- A hardboard panel, cut to the desired size.
- A piece of linen or canvas, cut to the size of the hardboard panel. Leave about 1/4 inch edge for trimming after board is adhered.
- Lamin-All. Lamin-All is an effective adhesive often used in mounting photographic paper. It may be used dry and heat mounted. It really adheres the linen to the panel and keeps the edges glues down.
- A utility knife.
- An iron on a low setting for the heat mounting.
- A brush, sponge brush or roller.
- An old sheet, or other piece of thin fabric or paper.
- Protective gloves.
- Fresh air!
If you enjoyed this video, you might like my others…you can find my videos here. Do you make your own panels for painting, or would your rather buy them?
My friend, artist *Marc Hanson had a helpful tip to add: “I’d add one addendum to your explanation, that’s after using gallons of Laminall and an iron or dry mount press to adhere linen to boards. IF it’s an oil primed linen, watch the heating of the surface. If you get it too hot you can essentially ‘melt’ the oil primer making it very slick and not nice to apply paint to. My recommendation is to use the minimal amount of heat/time to adhere the linen. Just don’t over heat.” ~Marc Hanson
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Can you make gesso using latex interior house paint by adding powdered CaCO3 (marble powder), or gypsum (hydrated Ca SO4)? Commercial gesso is expensive and several of the on line recipies use PVA along with these calcium salts. I want to use it on Hard-Board panels and then paint on it with oil paints. Help appreciated. I would like to recycle left over latex paint.
I often paint oil over acrylic based paintings. But, the thicker the acrylic underpainting, the more likely the oil will not adhere. Oil over a latex primed panel might cause you problems. You might get peeling and trouble with the oil adhering… I often seal my acrylic underpaintings with a coat of MinWax polyurethane. I let it dry before I begin with oils. You can experiment with this, but it is not archival – although it will most likely outlive us!
Lori, I loved this video, but don’t know where to find Lamin-All. I Googled it, but none of the places found there even know what it is! One art supplies store asked if you could do the same with Matt Medium, and instead of putting the canvas on it right away and stacking books on it, let it dry like the Lamin-All, then ironing it, as in your method. I haven’t tried this yet, but it might be worth a try.
Here’s where I found mine… http://www.unitedmfrs.com/cart/detail.cfm?item=3071 Hope this helps…
Hey Lori,
Thanks for the great video! I’ve got my laminall and am preparing to glue the panels but wondered if you’d sized yours first w/ PVA or GAC? Thanks, Cindy
Hello Cindy, I am behind on comments. By now you may have already tried this. Yes, it is best to size wooden panels because the Laminall doesn’t adhere well otherwise…follow the directions on the bottle for best results.
Hi Lori,
Have you ever tried this with raw linen canvas? I am looking to paint on a PVA primed raw linen so I can have the natural linen color peak through in certain places in my painting. I tried gluing raw linen to GAC 100 coated masonite, the glue being Lineco, but the glue oozed through the little holes in the linen and caused streaking. I am thinking this Lamin-all approach could be better for not striking through the linen. Have you ever tried this with raw linen?
Thanks, Connie
Hi Lori,
I am going to order some Lamin-all and experiment for myself. I think it will at least eliminate the mess from gluing. 🙂
Thanks,
Connie
Great Connie…I would add a little less water because I found that it adheres even better that way. Good luck!
Hi Connie, I have not tried it with raw linen, but I bet your hunch it right. I think it would be worth a try. Let me know what happens! ~Lori 🙂
Hi Lori,
I want to mount pre-primed acrylic linen canvas size 12 x 18 to board. I’m thinking birch for lightness in weight. Can i still use Lamin-all? What type preparation does the board itself need? What is your favorite board & why?
Thanks for all your tips & info!
Vickie
Hello Vickie, yes you can use Lamin-all – I have been adding a bit less water than the instructions suggest. It works better my way. Also, you can try using acrylic gel medium. It works well too. Good luck!
Hi Lori, I love all the help you offer us artists. I’ve seen a similar method but artists are using Miracle Muck instead of Lamin-all. It doesn’t require heating. Have you tried this? Can you offer suggestions on which methods produces the most durable painted surface? Thanks again.
Hello Laura, yes, I’ve tried Miracle Muck. Also, YES glue works as well as acrylic gel medium. After heating, the Lamin-all is ready to paint upon. That’s, why I like it…however, the others work well too. Thanks for adding to this conversation! ~Lori 🙂