Choosing the Right Ampersand Panel for Your Art
If you’ve ever wondered which Ampersand panel is right for your style and medium, here’s a guide to help you discover their unique surfaces and how artists use them.
Claybord
Claybord is one of the most versatile panels in the Ampersand range, loved by both fine artists and illustrators. Its surface is a smooth, velvety clay finish that’s incredibly absorbent; unlike anything else you’ve tried. This kaolin clay ground is inspired by Renaissance-era gesso, giving it a traditional quality. But what really sets Claybord apart is its ability to trap pigments in the surface. You can scratch, carve, or cut into it to reveal the white clay beneath; a technique known as sgraffito; which Colorado artist (and Claybord’s inventor) Charles Ewing pioneered.
Scratchbord
Scratchbord was created as a durable, professional alternative to traditional scratchboard paper. Today, it’s the go-to choice for professional scratchboard artists. The surface is tougher and easier to work into than paper-based versions, making it perfect for intricate, highly detailed work. Scratchbord is essentially a form of direct engraving; you scratch through a black ink surface to reveal a white layer beneath, creating striking black-and-white artwork. You can also colour the revealed white lines to add depth and vibrancy to your designs.
Gessobord
Gessobord is a ready-to-use wood panel designed for oils and acrylics. Built on Ampersand’s premium, warp-resistant Hardbord and sealed with their Archiva-Seal™, it resists yellowing over time. The surface is finished with professional-grade acrylic gesso, saving you the time and effort of applying and sanding multiple layers yourself. Just take it out of the package and start painting!
Primed Smooth Panel
For painters who want a perfectly smooth surface, the Artist Panel Primed Smooth is ideal. Pre-gessoed and ready to use, it has a semi-absorbent, acid-free ground that makes it easy to achieve crisp details and smooth wipes. Traditionally, creating such a surface would require many layers of gesso and sanding; but this panel saves you all that work.
It’s also highly versatile: use it for oil, acrylic, inks, graphite, collage, acrylic pouring, or even as a base for mounting photos, giclées, or canvas. Available in a variety of sizes and depths (including flat and cradled), the edges are also primed; great for wrap-around images; and the flat panels even come with a keyhole for hanging.
Whether you’re creating delicate scratch art, vibrant paintings, or smooth, detailed designs, Ampersand has a panel to suit your needs; ready to help you bring your vision to life.
