Hi all!

I have decided to write a guide about painting a day artist supports because I have had numerous emails asking me what I use and why I mark an "X" in back of some of my panels.

Well, on fiber board or masonite panels less than 1/2" thick, it is obligatory to mark and X in back of the panel, from corner to corner. Anyone who studied art knows this otherwise the panels will eventually warp! Using gesso (black or white), simply take a brush and paint it on the back. So it might not look so good, but you will avoid your client serious problems in the future. Sometimes, the warping can happen right away. The bigger the panel the worse the warping gets.

Now collectors receiving their paintings without an X on the back should be concerned. Have someone do it for you, or buy some gesso or latex paint- even acrylic is ok, and do this carefully yourself. You should QUESTION the artist's professionalism if they have not done this themselves no matter how good a painter they are...did they even mix paint in the right ratio for optimum drying from lean to fat? Lean to fat formula is painting thin using turpentine in the first stages of painting and then building up to thicker heavier layers using more oil up to the final layer of the painting. This is a whole other topic!

Even if you have an embedded framed backing, you should have an X on the back of the panel if the support is made of, wood, masonite, fiberboard less than 1/2 inch thick.

Anything thicker, I still would take this simple precaution.

Here is a sample:



This painting will never warp unless it gets soaked with water and is left to dry. I will eventually post pictures showing other support do's and don'ts.
Hope this guide is useful!

Rosemary for COSENTINO ART