How To Prepare MDF Board For Portraiture
Paint Acrylic onto MDFB To Seal It Before Using Oils and Glaze
Canvas is not the only suitable surface that portrait painters have available to them. Sometimes painters need the ready access and easy storage option of lightweight MDF.
Artists need to understand the material so that they can seal the surface appropriately. MDF can be turned into a suitable painting surface by applying many layers of acrylic paint. This must be done before moving to the oil painting stage of portraiture. If oils were painted directly onto the surface, the medium would eventually eat into the wood and spoil the appearance of the painting. The portrait would turn yellow and become crumbly. It would eventually decay.
The Material
"Medium-density fiberboard, MDF or MDFB is an engineered wood product formed by breaking down softwood into wood fibers. It is denser than normal particle board." according to Free Dictionary.com.
It is often used by artists because it is
- very lightweight
- cost effective material
- always readily available from any hardware
- thin and easy to store or carry in the car
- cut ready to size (choose from a selection)
- easy to frame and lightweight within the frame
Ways To Seal The Surface
There are products you can buy that will seal the surface professionally. One such product is gesso, or ordinary white undercoat would do the trick. But if you are stuck for materials (and you probably are if you are using MDF) here is a way to seal the board at the same times as you work through the beginning stages of painting a portrait.
The Steps
- Without the application of any undercoat whatsoever, block in the simple shapes of the portrait scene using your normal acrylic paint set. To take advantage of the rawness of the brush strokes on the wood, brush the strokes thickly, fluidly and in a textured manner. By being super conscious of capturing gestural movement at this stage, you are creating tracks of brush strokes that can be of capital value later when you are glazing. You will be able to capitalise on the strokes to guide the pooling and wash effects of the ebb and flow of the water. Hair will also benefit later if you concentrate on building layers of stringy texture that will direct and accentuate softer brushing later.
- Once you are happy with this basic underpainting, come back to firm up outlines and clarify areas of light and dark. At this stage correct any problems with size, proportion and perspective
- Now work over the painting as many times as it takes to build up layers of light and shade. Because the board has not been primed, you should be very particular at this stage. Make sure every single minute part of the surface has been layered at least three times. It is wise to be sure that the layers have been fairly thick.
- Once you are sure that you have covered everything, and that basic image is a good indication of what the oil painting will eventually look like, you have completed the underpainting stage.
- Wait for a day before switching to oils to continue painting the portrait. If you want a very polished finish you may later want to glaze it.
MDF is a versatile medium and highly convenient support for your precious portraiture. It becomes especially attractive at times when it is has been difficult to purchase canvas or you are in a tight spot and cannot carry canvases with you.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
