I am trying a new base surface for my oil paintings.

I love canvas, but its a bit too fancy for experiments. So, I got a stack of A4 sized masonite boards. I painted them with universal undercoat over which I applied a gesso paste with my palette knife. Once the gesso paste is dry it won’t crack and you can work on it with oils or acrylics.

Next I mixed up neutral colours with genuine turpentine and an “oil painting medium” (honely coloured, like a pour-able gel, it thins the paint and lets it dry quicker) to make it spread better and it is transparent. Then I rubbed it on to the prepared surface

Now I am ready to paint!