Made from a combination of kraft paper, recycled pulp, and sizes or glues, cardboard is one of the most common paper products. This substrate is not recommended for permanent works of art.

A ground or barrier coating is not required when working on cardboard with acrylics, watercolors, or dry media.

When painting with an acrylic paint, medium, gesso, or ground, two or more initial coats of Gloss Medium can be applied to reduce Support Induced Discoloration (SID).

For oils, do not apply Gloss Medium. Apply three or more coats of acrylic Gesso to protect the substrate from oil penetration.

Many of our Gesso & Grounds, Gels & Pastes, and Fluid Mediums can be applied to alter the absorbency, durability, or texture of the surface.

For watercolors, we typically recommend applying Gesso followed by one of our three QoR Watercolor Grounds for a bright white absorptive surface.

For dry media like PanPastel, we recommend applying a textured ground or paste for improved tooth.

Article: Paper warping when painted with acrylics

Article: Painting with oils on paper

Article: Paint & Paper (making a watercolor)