Frugal Friday: Perfect Pastel and Pencil Panels for Pennies!

Sanded paper is crazy-expensive but so lovely to paint on. In today’s Frugal Friday Feature I’ll show you how to make a similar surface for pennies!

• I am using matboard scraps but you can use any paper you like or even cardboard (keep in mind cardboard is usually not acid free to be sure to use an acid free paper or board if you want it to be archival) I love using colored matboard for this because I have a lot leftover from when I frame my work.

• You can use either white or clear gesso. White gesso can be tinted with acrylic paint to get the color you desire. Keep in mind the more paint you add the less gritty it will be so I suggest using a small amount of a very dark color. Clear gesso can be applied over colored boards or paper so you can keep the same color. You can even use cardstock for this! You can even apply clear gesso over an underpainting to lock down the color and add back tooth. It’s cool stuff! I like Liquitex Clear Gesso (honestly it’s the only clear gesso I have tried but it’s great!) I also like Jerry’s world’s greatest Gesso in white. *Gesso is an acrylic product so it’s best to wait until temps are above freezing to order it if you live somewhere cold or pick some up at a local store. Do not let this product freeze!

• Want to DIY some gesso? All you have to do is add something gritty to white paint or PVA glue. I’ve heard people adding marble dust, pumice powder, fine sand, or even baking soda. There’s no harm in experimenting but for work I want to be sure will last I purchase premade gessos on acid-free supports. That’s just me, you do you.

Happy crafting!