Artistic painting on MDF/Chipboard as canvas?

[dclegg202]

I'm planning to produce some artistic paintings on MDF wood. They would be large in size (150cm x 250cm) and in the style of Jackson Pollock. The MDF would be approximately 9mm thick.

I've been told that this kind of wood can bend and warp itself over time. Is this true? How could I prevent this happening? I would intend to hang the painting of the wall. What problems could I encounter hanging such a heavy piece? Is it true that the paint could flake off due to the unbinding nature of the surface of MDF? How could I prevent this? What other problems could I encounter?

What alternatives could I use instead of MDF? Canvas is too expensive for me to use.

Thanks.

[Courtney]

Look into stretching your own canvas. If you are handy enough to make your own frame it can be quite affordable if you get the canvas cheap.

If you are stuck on MDF . . . .. I have never painted on it, so I don't know for sure, but I am pretty sure that yes, it will warp.
My gut reaction is to tell you to attach a "frame" behind the MDF created from a stronger, less warpy wood. The vision I have in my head is similar to framing a house, and my theory is that it would help with the warping.

You will need to prime or gesso the board before you start painting so that the paint will stick. I

It will be heavy, but you will hang it on the wall as you would any other heavy object (sculpture, large mirror, etc). The trick will be to figure out what sort of hardware you will need to attach to the board to make it ready to hang.

[Orla C]

One way of keep the wood from warping is to attach it to an aluminium frame of some kind. Alternatively, you could get the thicker, more robust version of MDF (at least 1 cm thick) and paint on that. If you want to keep the thin board, do a large cross in emulsion paint from corner to corner on the back, and be prepared to box-frame your piece at some stage.

Hanging MDF can be interesting, if you're using the slightly thicker type, you will be able to screw some some strong metal loops onto it to hang it from wall hooks.

The keep your paint on the surface, break the surfact slightly by sandpapering it gently. Use acryclic paint rather than oil. If your heart is set on using oils, then get a piece of unstretch canvas and use PVA glue to stretch it over and around your piece of MDF. If you don't have canvas, try using waste fabric - I have seen some interesting work done using old jeans and denim, and most people will be happy to give you their old torn jeans. You will need to put some size over the jeans if you want to use oil paints, but PVA will do the job.

[Baraclary Oblinton]

I don't think you can keep mdf that is that thin from warping. Even if you brace the back- 1) it will look weird on the wall and 2) it will still have a chance of bowing in the areas that are not braced directly. I have found canvas in upholstering supply shops for really cheap. MDF is about the cheapest panel you can get and is more expensive than I pay for canvas. Even if you don't stretch the canvas, you will be better off than with the MDF.

If you just really don't want to paint on canvas, a better panel choice for something this size may be Masonite (or a similar product). It usually comes warped a bit already and kind of floppy, but it is very flexible and can be held flat by a picture frame around it. Again, however, unless you find some nice free material from which to make the picture frame, the canvas will still be cheaper than even the cost of the frame.

By the way- securely hanging panals this size of MDF in a public place will be a nightmare. It would have to be hung like a mirror with little brackets on the top and the bottom. Even then, unless you use a bracket that spans across the entire bottom, its own weight will eventually have its toll on the spots where it is supported. When I use MDF to paint on, it is about twice as thick, much smaller, and I still put canvas on it. The way I hang them is to drill a hole in the upper center of the back side that goes about 3/4 of the way through and is angled upwards. It then hangs securely on a nail or screw. This is the typical way to hang this type of board becase it just crumbles when you try to attach hardware. I think your peices are too large to hang like this safely. I hope all goes well.

[Orla C]

One way of keep the wood from warping is to attach it to an aluminium frame of some kind. Alternatively, you could get the thicker, more robust version of MDF (at least 1 cm thick) and paint on that. If you want to keep the thin board, do a large cross in emulsion paint from corner to corner on the back, and be prepared to box-frame your piece at some stage.

Hanging MDF can be interesting, if you're using the slightly thicker type, you will be able to screw some some strong metal loops onto it to hang it from wall hooks.

The keep your paint on the surface, break the surfact slightly by sandpapering it gently. Use acryclic paint rather than oil. If your heart is set on using oils, then get a piece of unstretch canvas and use PVA glue to stretch it over and around your piece of MDF. If you don't have canvas, try using waste fabric - I have seen some interesting work done using old jeans and denim, and most people will be happy to give you their old torn jeans. You will need to put some size over the jeans if you want to use oil paints, but PVA will do the job.

[Orla C]

One way of keep the wood from warping is to attach it to an aluminium frame of some kind. Alternatively, you could get the thicker, more robust version of MDF (at least 1 cm thick) and paint on that. If you want to keep the thin board, do a large cross in emulsion paint from corner to corner on the back, and be prepared to box-frame your piece at some stage.

Hanging MDF can be interesting, if you're using the slightly thicker type, you will be able to screw some some strong metal loops onto it to hang it from wall hooks.

The keep your paint on the surface, break the surfact slightly by sandpapering it gently. Use acryclic paint rather than oil. If your heart is set on using oils, then get a piece of unstretch canvas and use PVA glue to stretch it over and around your piece of MDF. If you don't have canvas, try using waste fabric - I have seen some interesting work done using old jeans and denim, and most people will be happy to give you their old torn jeans. You will need to put some size over the jeans if you want to use oil paints, but PVA will do the job.