Ampersand Art Supply Aquabord | 11" x 14" | 1/8" Flat Profile | Watercolor Painting Panel | Highly Absorbent Surface for Watercolor, Gouache & Casein

I love everything about this watercolor panel! I used a combination of inktense and ohuhus new pupe markers, which both melted down and spread absolutely beautifully! It was my first time using a board like this, as most other watercolor boards I've used seemed to be more like generic canvas boards primed with watercolor ground. This is waaaay different to that or even canson watercolor panels... It's got a tight grainy texture, in a white coating on one side. There are no fibers as you experience in pulp paper or cotton papers... This is a very different experience, and I found even more room to lift and work with a full value scale more easily than on paper. This was true, even with my inktense pencils, long after they dried. I was even able to use some wet on wet techniques.I am particularly a fan of the price. One might think that it could get expensive, and that could be so, but for me, the value is in the ease of use and the joy it brings me. This did not fail in either department! I highly recommend these panels, which even fit depth wise in basic store frames!! I will be using these for all of my gifted works in the future!!Note: others mentioned that there's a learning curve, and they are not wrong... So go into using this as if the results will be a surprise and you won't be let down in any way!!!!

I paint with gouache a lot on Bristol, but I wanted to expand my painting experience and these boards are 100% worth it!

Excellent

Ok

I have been learning fresco-style watercolor painting, using these Aquabord pieces instead of watercolor paper, as this product withstands an unlimited amount of layering, lifting and other watercolor techniques. I've used QoR Watercolor paints in these photos, following the Ali Cavanaugh Portrait technique and her QoR Portrait Watercolor Tubes set.

I was excited to try this hard surface because I hate paper buckling when it gets wet. I am not happy with this aquabord. As I wet the surface before applying paint, bubbles appeared everywhere. I added color and everywhere the bubbles were the paint would not adhere. It left light spots everywhere. I kept going, trying to make it work. It looked blotchy. I always scratch away paint with an xacto knife to create tree trunks. When I tried it the surface lifted, gouging the area down to bare wood. Paint would not cover it. I tried gouache. That would not cover it. Maybe if you are a better artist than I am this might be ok for you. No more aquabord for me.

Love this board for watercolor! It has texture so haven’t been impressed with use of pencil or pen but that isn’t what it was made for so not disappointed however, with watercolor it is fabulous!It is easy to soak up a mistake when using with watercolor and takes re-working like a champ! A lot of times I find a certain color just isn’t clicking with me or I don’t like a certain object in my design. Normally I’d have to work around what can’t be removed but this board allows you to soak off color w a sponge no problem. No issue with areas getting a bad muddy color and can fill in areas objects were removed with a light color and not have any ghosts.Being able to add and/or change color without having it get muddy would be really great for anyone new to watercolor to get used to the medium without getting frustrated and ruining tons of expensive papers.It also doesn’t wrinkle like some papers and is ready to frame when it dries. As an artist, I love this because I love to create but the minutia of smoothing our, matting and framing, I find tedious to say the least.So although it may be a little expensive for the larger sizes, I think the price is well worth it. I haven’t done the math but if you figure in paper thrown out due to mistakes, matte board and other framing materials that are not necessary with this board, and compare overall cost of materials to get the same end product, I am sure the cost would be similar to using a good cold press paper.

Smooth and good value. Easy to paint. Functional for practice.