Drawing Boards - Cartolino
ainting boards (cartolino) are canvas stretched and mounted on rigid backing (cardboard or wood), offering stable surface that doesn’t bend and doesn’t need a frame. Suitable for oil paints, acrylics, tempera, watercolour, and mixed media, they’re ideal for plein air painting, smaller works, and easy transport. Available in white primed or with pre-drawn outlines for direct colouring.
Painting boards (cartolino) are an alternative to stretched canvases, with canvas mounted on rigid backing of cardboard or wood. Cardboard is lighter and more economical, suitable for practice and smaller works. Wood panels are more durable and archival, preferred for permanent works. All surfaces are primed with gesso and ready for immediate use with oil paints, acrylics, tempera, watercolor, and mixed media. The rigid backing doesn’t bend or warp, offering stability during painting.
Cartolino is ideal for plein air painting because it’s more portable and lightweight than stretched canvases, and doesn’t need protective packaging during transport. Available in many sizes, from small (10x15cm) for studies and sketches to larger for finished works. We also offer pre-drawn cartolino with outlines (landscapes, figures, still lifes) for direct colouring, suitable for beginners, children, and those who want to focus on colour without drawing. See also our stretched canvases, painting colours, and brushes.