What is an oil board?

An oil board is a small painting created using traditional oil paints on a stiff paper or wood foundation. Artists favoured these rigid supports for outdoor sketching because they required no bulky wooden stretcher frames.

How do I care for these?

Keep these paintings away from direct sunlight, damp walls, and extreme temperature fluctuations to protect the wood or card. Display them indoors within stable environments, avoiding harsh chemical cleaners on both the painted surface and original frames.

Are these paintings signed?

Many examples bear artist signatures, monograms, or period inscriptions either on the front face or written verso upon the backing. Unsigned works frequently display distinct regional styles that link them directly to specific nineteenth-century British or European schools.

Why use wood instead of canvas?

Wooden panels and stiff boards provided a completely solid surface that prevented the sagging and punctures associated with woven textiles. This rigid medium suited the swift working methods of plein air painters capturing fleeting light and weather effects.