The foam board is light, cheap, and has the perfect pure white glossy surface for painting on with acrylics.
Masonite is more conventional and is supposed to be better than foam board for painting on and I’m willing to bet it is. But, it’s heavier and probably a lot more pricey than foam. It’s supposed to be more durable and permanent, but it also requires more prepping.
Canvas is nice but out of the question. Too inconvenient and takes too much prepping. And it’s harder to frame and transport.
Has anyone ever used masonite? Is it worth it to upgrade? My goal is to paint a portrait for a friend for their birthday. Should I be worried about the foam board being flimsy or corroding? Is it a good idea to spray it with fixative or clear coat before I begin? I was thinking I’d make the sketch straight onto a foam board, clear coat it, paint over it, then varnish it. Can a foam board take that? Good idea? Bad idea? Is masonite my only choice for something like this?
Are there no art supply stores around where you live that sell canvases? Like ready to go ones, that are already stretched, nailed, and primed. I’d recommend investing in that… a decently sized canvas for portraits (16x20 for instance) would cost around $14 or so. You can also get canvas boards, which are considerably cheaper.
I wouldn’t recommend painting a “serious” painting on foamcore. It’s too fragile, very easy to dent and puncture, and just doesn’t look that great. It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into it, but I would avoid foamcore personally and go for a cheap canvas board if anything.
Gila: Thanks. Yeah that’s the advice I got over at the PA forums too. The surface of foamboard is so freaking perfect though… But I’ll check out some masonite and re-check out canvas and choose one of those. I didn’t really think durability mattered much if you’re not going to be batting something around, but you’re probably right that for a serious project foam won’t cut it.
Originally Posted by Gila-Monster I think the best “ghetto” painting surface is a sheet of wood. Sturdy and can provide interesting designs if you choose to go with the wood grain.
Better not mention that while standing in front of the Mona Lisa. (Cuz you know it’s painted on wood)
Of the two, I’d go for masonite, but it’s only a few more dollars a for a pre-readied canvas, and it might be worth the investment if this is a real serious thing. Masonite’s probably good enough. Like, if this isn’t a friend-whose-pants-you-want-in, I’d go Masonite.
There’s a certain kind of constuction type paper made for painting that doesn’t have all those faults. I don’t know the name, because I’m not an artist, but a friend of mine who is uses it for abstract oil paintings when he doesn’t have canvas. Although just let me interject: a painting on a foamcore posterboard would just be tacky.