Painting with Oils on Birch and Mahogany Panels

For really striking, traditional results, prime mahogany and birch panels with one or two coats of clear primer like Gamblin Galkyd or linseed oil (The Galkyd will dry in a few days, while linseed oil can take weeks or even months).

Winslow Homer and other painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries let the dark, varnished mahogany surface show through to add interest and unify the painting.

The light color of birch allows you to use the color of the varnished wood for highlights to great effect. In this painting, Stopped For Adjustments, the road in the foreground and the highlights on the mountains were achieved by lightly wiping away the paint with a rag.