Tutorials, videos, tips & techniques
Learn techniques from professional artists, follow art tutorials, watch videos, and more.
Tips for using Claybord
While Claybord allows the use of traditional pigments, tools, and techniques, it is also an ideal surface for experimentation. You can cut into the surface and expose the white clay ground as part of the creative process. Pigments can be manipulated to vary tonal value, create detail, develop highlights, and correct mistakes.
Printing on Claybord
Claybord is a wonderful surface for printmaking. It can be used for silk screening, intaglio, relief, and monotype printing. This ultra-smooth rigid panel will not stretch or swell during the printing process ensuring perfect registration.
Oil on Claybord
Some oil painters prefer Claybord because they work in many layers with glazing techniques. The absorbency of the clay ground enhances their technique and adds a unique style to their images.
Inks on Claybord
Claybord's smooth, absorbent surface was designed for use with inks. Its smooth kaolin clay coating eliminates smudging, bleeding, and feathering. The pigments in most inks are only absorbed into the top layer of the Claybord surface allowing them to be easily erased and manipulated.
Graphite on Claybord
Claybord’s rigidity, soft tooth finish, ability to be scratched or manipulated, and archival qualities make it a fresh alternative for pencil work. Graphite pencils and powder graphite both pair perfectly with Claybord.
Graphic Media: Pen and Ink on Claybord
Claybord is an ideal surface for fine drawings using technical pens. The smooth and absorbent surface will faithfully reproduce the desired line width without feathering or bleeding.
Egg Tempera on Claybord
Egg tempera is a very vibrant and durable paint, but it requires a rigid and absorbent support. Claybord is the perfect solution, saving you many hours of painstakingly preparing your panels.
Casein on Claybord
Rigid panel supports like Claybord are ideal for painting with casein. Canvas cannot be used, because a dry casein paint film is the most inflexible of the permanent paint binders and becomes increasingly brittle as it ages.
Airbrush on Claybord
Claybord's smooth, absorbent surface and rigid hardboard backing make it ideal for airbrush. The clay coating allows manipulation of the surface without affecting its integrity. Instead of using masking fluid, scratch in your details and apply a glaze layer for a whole new dimension.
Acrylic on Claybord
The combination of Claybord’s kaolin clay coating and smooth surface allows for free-flowing brush strokes, intense color, and the ability to remove paint from the surface with ease.
Ampersand Floaterframe: Simply the easiest floater frame you’ll ever use
At Ampersand, we noticed that floater frames available to artists didn't properly accommodate wooden panels. So, in 2016 we began manufacturing our very own. Ampersand Floaterframes offer a complete and easy solution for displaying your artwork on panel.
Read more … Ampersand Floaterframe: Simply the easiest floater frame you’ll ever use
Fluid Art with Claybord Art Tiles and Marabu Alcohol Inks
In this step-by-step guide by Celia Buchanan, you’ll find a fun and easy tutorial for fluid art. Explore with Marabu Alcohol Inks and acrylic pouring medium on Ampersand Claybord Art Tiles.
Read more … Fluid Art with Claybord Art Tiles and Marabu Alcohol Inks
Claybord and Golden High Flow Acrylics
Amy Shawley Paquette demonstrates her "painterly illustrative" style using Claybord and Golden High Flow acrylics. Inspired by nature, texture, color, and travel; her work incorporates figurative elements with wildlife, architecture, and landscapes that are influenced by her adventures.
How to transform your Floaterframe with gold leaf
Did you know that you can customize Ampersand’s Floaterframes? One way is to apply a metal leaf. A gold Floaterframe is a beautiful treatment that can enhance your artwork and truly make it stand out.
Read more … How to transform your Floaterframe with gold leaf
Silhouettes on Primed Smooth
Ampersand Primed Smooth works great for making silhouette paintings of your family or friends. Its smooth surface means that you’ll have excellent control of both the drawing and the painting steps in this project. Also, because it is a rigid panel, you can frame it without a mat or glass when you’re done for a lasting keepsake!
Image transfer on Claybord
Claybord is great for this kind of work because of its versatility. The rigid panel takes the pressure of an image transfer process without bending or tearing. Its smooth surface allows for a clean transfer and for collage materials to make a perfectly flush connection.
