Tutorials & tips - Ampersand Art

Claybord artist joins Skywalker Ranch Studios residency

Claybord artist Eric Doggett recently became the first artist to join the new artist-in-residence program at Sky Walker Ranch.

How to make wood sign décor

Make your own festive wood signs with Ampersand panels and some everyday art supplies. Ampersand Birch Wood Panels are an excellent choice for a project like this and they are sold in multi-packs so you can make signs for yourself and some for gifts!

Read more … How to make wood sign décor

Gessobord David Gonzalez Acrylic painting — Artwork by David Gonzales

Acrylic on Gessobord

Gessobord is the perfect choice for acrylic painting. Forget about the time-consuming process of applying and sanding several applications of gesso; Gessobord is ready to use, no preparation necessary.

Sealing and varnishing Ampersand panels

Sealing and varnishing finished artwork on Ampersand panels is extremely important especially when framing without glass. See our list of suggestions for sealing and varnishing popular mediums using products we have successfully tested on our panels.

Priming wood panels with acrylic gesso or oil grounds

Commonly, artists ask us if unprimed wood panels need to be sealed. Except for encaustics, the answer is Yes.

Shana Rowe Jackson, In the Shade, 11x14, acrylic on Ampersand Primed Canvas Texture — Artwork by Shana Rowe Jackson

Acrylic on Primed Canvas Texture

The Artist Panel Primed Canvas Texture is a perfect choice for acrylic painters that want all the benefits of a panel but enjoy painting on a surface with a traditional canvas texture.

Joe A. Oakes, Morning Stroll, 36x24, acrylic on Ampersand Aquabord — Artwork by Joe A. Oakes

Acrylic on Aquabord

Aquabord is a great surface for acrylics. Its heavily textured surface offers great adhesion with washes and layering. Because of the high absorbency of Aquabord, acrylic paint soaks in and dries very quickly when painting in thin washes.

Claybord demonstration by Brigitte Waldschmidt

German mixed media artist and author, Brigitte Waldschmidt demonstrates techniques on Ampersand Claybord. (English subtitles)

Primed Smooth demonstration by Brigitte Waldschmidt

Watch artist and author Brigitte Waldschmidt experiment with mixed media on an Ampersand Primed Smooth. (Time-lapse)

Triptych on Gessobord by Taylor Reinhold

Check out this video showing the stunning triptych international muralist, Taylor Reinhold created on oversized Ampersand Gessobord panels.

Plein air painting on Ampersand panels with Scott Gellatly

Join Ampersand Artist Ambassador Scott Gellatly as he uses Gessobord, Aquabord, and Pastelbord for his plein air work.

Using Claybord and Golden High Flow Acrylic Paint

Golden Artist Educator Samantha Williams-Chapelsky walks us through her project.

Mark Dean Veca: Acrylic on 48x60 Ampersand Claybord

Time-lapse of Dither by Mark Dean Veca. Acrylic on 48x60 Ampersand Claybord.

Bubble art tutorial on Claybord

Have you tried bubble art on Ampersand Claybord? This is a great art project for the family that is perfect for all ages. You will be amazed at how easy it can be to create beautiful artwork using some household items. Claybord’s unique, absorbent surface is a perfect choice for this project!