I’ve looked at manufactured art boards primed and ready for oil painting from several vendors. At my local Michaels store one 9”x12” Mona Lisa™ Gessoed Art Board™ cost $5.49. I want 50 boards. If I buy all 50 panels from Michaels that works out to about $275. Yikes!

On the other hand, if I make my own hardboard panels for plein air painting, I can save a considerable amount of money. At my local Home Depot, I bought 5 2’x4’ hardboard panels. Each panel can produce 10 9"x12" panels. My son help me cut 50 panels. Those five 2’x4’ hardboard panels cost only $25. Add primer and gesso and some sandpaper and my total cost for 50 boards is $69 versus $275 for panels purchased at Michaels.

In reality, I ended up with only 47 boards. I destroyed 3 panels because I got the bright idea to use Rustoleum automotive oil-based primer. The fumes nearly killed me, and the results were abysmal. I decided to go the traditional route of using acrylic gesso. It took a two or three days to get all the boards gessoed and sanded. I’m quite pleased with the results! I now have 47 beautifully finished 9”x12” hardboard panels ready for plein air painting - all for $1.47 each versus $5.49 each from Michaels.

But the big question is: would I go the DIY route with art panels again? Frankly, the time I spent making the boards could have perhaps been better spent painting. How much is your time worth? Anyhow, I have no regrets. I enjoyed the learning process.

Liquitex Professional White Gesso Surface Prep Medium, 32-oz :
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PORTER-CABLE 380 1/4 Sheet Orbital Finish Palm Sander:
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