SUPPORTS

In fine arts, supports refer to the surface on which a work of art is created. It is essential for artists to choose a suitable support that meets their technical and aesthetic needs. The support can affect the appearance, durability, and stability of an artwork, so it is important to carefully consider which support to use to achieve the desired result.

At vpiera.com and in our fine arts materials stores, you can find and purchase all the supports an artist may need. The main supports for painting, drawing, and illustrating can be classified as follows:

Frames, Canvas, and Linen: This is one of the most commonly used supports in oil and acrylic painting. A canvas (or canvas on a frame) is typically made of stretched linen or cotton fabric fixed to a wooden frame. The canvas or fabric on the frame may be previously prepared with a primer (preparatory layers) to improve the adherence of paints and pigments. Frames come in different sizes and thicknesses.

Paper, Pads, Notebooks, and Sketchbooks: Paper is a versatile support used in techniques such as drawing, watercolor, gouache, printmaking, and mixed media. There are different types of paper, ranging from drawing paper to special watercolor papers with different weights, sizes, materials, and different finishes or textures. Paper can be found in loose sheets or bound in various ways (stitched, glued, or spiral-bound).

Wood: Wood, such as plywood frames, is used in techniques such as tempera or mixed media painting. You can also find wooden boards covered with canvas, where the wood surface is previously prepared with a primed fabric (prepared to improve paint adhesion).

Cardboard panels: Cardboard panels are a sturdier support than paper but less bulky than a frame. The painting surface is covered with a fabric treated with a universal primer. They are widely used for oil, acrylic, gouache, and mixed media painting.

Today, there are also many specialized primers available that allow painting with specific techniques on any surface. For example, you can paint with watercolor on canvas.