Ampersand Museum Series Encausticbord

An archival panel designed from a collaboration between Ampersand and R&F Handmade Paints, only Encausticbord has a ready to use surface formulated for the unique demands of encaustic painting and mixed media. Beginning in 2008 when the two manufacturers, authorities in their respective fields of wood painting panels and encaustic paint colors, started working together to dream up the perfect surface for encaustic paints. The foundation begins with Ampersand’s unique, formaldehyde-free Aspen wood fiber panels that are moisture-resistant. Combining Ampersand’s archival panel coating technology and R&F’s expertise in encaustics, extensive research and testing led to Encausticbord™, a unique wood panel that has the tooth to hold encaustic and mixed media unlike any other surface.

The Encausticbord™ ground has been specially formulated to provide superb adhesion between the encaustic paint and the surface. The ground is formulated with a very high solids to acrylic binder ratio which results in a very porous and absorbent surface. In addition, mineral aggregates are carefully selected in size and shape and added to the ground to yield a surface with a higher degree of surface roughness than typical acrylic gesso, which allows for better adhesion of encaustic wax. The ground is not only heat resistant and highly absorbent, but also holds tight to layers of wax and collage without the fear of cracking or separation.

The innovative Encausticbord surface is ready to use and requires no preparation. The bright and velvety ground is perfect not only for encaustics, but for mixed media applications including oil paints and sticks, collage, image transfer, incising and more, and the durable bond offered by the ground means that fantastic textures and thick layers can be built up on its outstandingly receptive surface.  

Encausticbord is available in various depths for multiple display options: 1/8" and 1/4" flat panels, 7/8" and 1 1/2" cradled panels, and 2 1/8" DEEP gallery cradled panels for maximum support.  Deeper cradled panels give artists the benefit of a gallery-style, frameless presentation.