A painter using smartphone

Print-on-Demand to Grow Your Art Business: A Practical Guide

Working as a painter or visual artist, turning your work into a steady income can feel overwhelming. Print-on-demand (POD) services let you skip inventory and shipping, so you focus on creating. Let’s go through when POD works, which platforms fit your style, and how artists like you are already making it real.

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Custom-sized canvases from CanvasLot

Custom‑Sized Canvases: When and Why You Need Them in Your Studio

Working on a painting and thinking, “I need a size that fits just right?” You’re not alone. Choosing custom‑sized canvases lets you match your vision exactly—to the space, the medium, and the feel you want. It’s about purpose, scale, and avoiding compromise.

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painting on a blank canvas

Best Packaging and Shipping Practices for Selling and Transporting Artwork

When you sell or transport artwork, especially stretched canvases, framed pieces, or mixed-media panels, proper packaging isn’t optional. It protects your work, your reputation, and your investment. Here’s a guide to packing and shipping artwork safely.

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rectangular wood panels

Preparing Wood Panels for Painting: A Guide for Artists

Painting on wood panels brings smooth surfaces and stability—but only if you prep them correctly. Follow these clear, practical steps to ensure your artwork lasts.

Why Proper Prep Matters

  • Protects wood from moisture and chemicals. Without sealing, oils and tannins can bleed into paint, causing discoloration over time.
  • Prevents warping and cracking. Sealing and priming helps wood resist humidity shifts that cause cupping or surface cracks.

1. Surface Prep: Clean & Sand

  • Remove dust and debris with a soft brush or cloth.
  • Lightly sand with 180–220 grit sandpaper to open pores and smooth edges.

2. Seal the Panel

  • Apply a barrier coat like Golden GAC 100®, shellac, or clear acrylic medium. This blocks stains and stops paint sinking into wood.
  • Let it fully dry, then lightly sand. A second coat adds extra protection.

different thickness of custom wood panels

3. Prime with Gesso

  • Apply two thin coats of acrylic gesso, sanding lightly between.
  • Gesso gives you a clean, stable surface that grips paint well.

4. Final Touches

  • Ensure all edges and the panel’s reverse side are sealed to prevent moisture-related warping.
  • After the last coat dries and is sanded smooth, your panel is ready. No need to rush into painting.

Studio-Ready Tips

  1. Use quality sealers. Water-based acrylics avoid yellowing and odor problems.
  2. Sand between layers. This helps prevent rough spots and peeling.
  3. Prep multiple panels at once. Gives you painting-ready supports when inspiration strikes.

Prepping your wood panel right builds a strong foundation for paint layers and protects your artwork’s future. Whether acrylics, oils, or mixed media, this method ensures clean, professional results.

custom-sized wood panels

 

Where to Buy Custom Wood Panels?

CanvasLot offers custom wood panels for artist. You can order the standard un-finished wood option or the sanded and primed with double layer of white gesso. Order online and we’ll deliver your custom wood panel right at your doorstep.

6 Strategies to Overcoming Creative Burnout in Your Art Studio

Understanding Creative Burnout in the Studio

Whether you’re an amateur or already a professional, creative burnout can hit any artist. It shows up as mental fatigue, loss of inspiration, self-doubt, even physical symptoms like headaches or disrupted sleep. Acknowledging burnout as a signal, not failure, is the first step toward recovery.

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Selecting the Right Wood Type for Your Art Panel

When it comes to painting surfaces, canvas gets most of the attention, but wood panels deserve a solid place in your studio. They’re stable, versatile, and perfect for detailed work. But not all wood is created equal. The type you choose matters for your technique, your materials, and the longevity of your work.

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painting on a blank canvas

Why Buying Painting Canvases Directly from the Source Matters

When you buy painting canvases straight from the manufacturer—like CanvasLot—you gain advantages you won’t get from middlemen or big-box retailers.

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