How to make LINEN / CANVAS PANELS: A step by step DIY GUIDE

In this detailed STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE, I show you how I make my own linen / canvas panels for a fraction of the cost of store bought painting boards.
I take you throught the process of making an excellent surface to paint on which is archival and extremely cost-effective. (I use linen in this guide but you can substitute it for cotton canvas if you prefer that surface).
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Large Masonite Hardboard panels
0:44 TOOLS for cutting panels
1:23 Stage 1- MEASURING up
2:12 Stage 2- CLAMPING down
2:27 Stage 3- Making the CUT
2:46 Stage 4- MEASURING up
3:04 Stage 5 + 6- CLAMPING down / Making the CUT
3:13 Stage 7: STACKING up
3:23 Stage 8- Making the CUT
3:34 Stage 9- SANDING down
4:21 Stage 10- SIZING the panel
6:11 Materials/ Equipment for GLUING
7:30 Optional GESSOing of panel
8:11 Stage 11- CUTTING OUT the linen
8:28 Stage 12a- GLUING the linen
10:08 Stage 12b- FOLDING the edges
10:55 Stage 12c- SMOOTHING the surface
11:31 Stage 12d- CHECKING the surface
11:57 Stage 12e- GESSO (optional)
12:15- FINISHED panel
---
COST: 1 Panel = $3 / €2.80 (can be done for half the price by not using linen)
FULL EQUIPMENT LIST:
- 1 x work bench
- 1 x Round saw (aka circular saw)
- 1 x sanding machine and sandpaper
- 1 x Metal or wood guide for round saw
- 2 x clamps
- 1 x measuring tape
- 1 x pencil
- Safety gear for power tools: eye, ear, breathing
- 1 x sheet of masonite hardboard
- 1 x Golden GAC100 primer (or other sizing solution)
- 1 x Golden Soft Gel Gloss (or other archival glue)
- 1 x Liquitex S Matte Gesso (optional)
- 1 x Spray bottle
- 1 x Scissors
- 1 x Brush
- 1 x Jar
- 1 x Wood piece (for smoothing down linen)
- Protective layer for bench
- TIME: About 10 minutes per panel
So I hope you enjoy this DIY guide on how to make good quality and cheap painting panels.
If you have any QUESTIONS, please leave them in the comments below and I'll get back to you. And likewise, if you have any TIPS of your own when making panels, please share them!
Enjoy!
Daniel

[@eaideusa]

Very good! Thanks!!

[@danielorourkeartist]

You're welcome!

[@ianbrowne8871]

A very useful and practical posting. I have used the PVA when making practice panels which seems to work well. The course I am on is using cheap panels and we have been instructed to use 2-3 coats of gesso to even out the surface and fill in the annoying ‘pot holes’ which reflect light. These can make any photography difficult. The tutor avoids a brush and gesso is applied with an old credit card! This works very well! The price of a linen board 16”x12 is £10 and more if importing oil primed from the USA.

[@danielorourkeartist]

Thanks for letting us know Ian- good to know PVA can be used for practice pieces. All the best with the course 😊

[@VillainMust]

This is great. I have been trying to make canvas panels but couldn't figure out the best way to wrap the canvas and attach it to the back. I'm going to give this a try. I use a wide plastic putty knife to flatten the canvas and get rid of air bubbles - it's a great tool for that job.

[@danielorourkeartist]

You're welcome Tim- and thanks for the putty knife tip 👍 I didn't cover this in the video, but if you want to skip folding the edges over, you can just trim the canvas at the edges so it's flush with the sides- I do this if I'm going to glue the panel to a cradle for support. Just remember to use a really sharp hobby knife blade to get a nice edge 😊

[@rebeccadean5091]

This was exactly what I was looking for and super helpful, thank you!

[@danielorourkeartist]

You're welcome Rebecca, just let me know if you have any questions 😀

[@danielorourkeartist]

Hope you find this guide useful 😀 I've put a full equipment/ material list in the description. If you have any questions just put them here in the comments and I'll get back to you 👍
**EXTRA TIP: You can also just glue the linen on the panel and cut along the edge instead of folding over the corners**
Here's a link to my Plein Air Vlog:
th-cam.com/play/PLzfvVssAGaqBx5rqNiindKghKEBYoUbzt.html

[@jdhawkart]

Great explanation of your process, thank you.

[@jonron4729]

I. Have used GAC 100 and although it is good it is quite expensive to be used as a size, have you considered PVA GLUE.?
.

[@danielorourkeartist]

Hi Jon, yeah GAC 100 is expensive! I did look into PVA glue as well but I couldn't find any archival quality acid-free where I live in Denmark. But maybe PVA would work just fine if you could find some acid free stuff 👍

[@davidc1878]

I agree, look for archival or acid-free PVA. From experience, be careful about adding too much water to PVA if you find you need to thin it out as too much water can lead to warping of the hardboard. The good thing about GAC 100 or similar products is that it will not contain water and therefore really minimizes any warping/shrinking issues when applying it.

[@nomoniker7917]

PVA, by it's very nature, IS ALL ACID FREE.