All in for Aluminum with NEW Legion Aluminum Panels

Over the years, I’ve loved experimenting with various surfaces—working on everything from traditional canvases to birch panels to stretched paper. For drawing, watercolor, and oil painting surfaces, I’ve been a regular user of Legion paper products, such as Stonehenge drawing paper and oil paper, for their quality and consistency. Adding again to their range of surface selections, Legion has recently released aluminum panels mounted with a variety of their best surfaces for drawing, painting, and mixed media. These panels are lightweight, sturdy, an—unlike traditional wooden boards—are less affected by humidity. I decided to get a sampling of the different options and put them to the test.

For Drawing

The first panel I tried was the Stonehenge drawing panel. Its sleek aluminum surface is the perfect surface for small charcoal drawing. What struck me immediately was the polished, professional look with clean edges and rounded corners. The experience of handling the panel while working was a delight, as I could easily rotate, elevate, and stand up the panel while working.

For Watercolor

Next, I tested the Stonehenge Aqua Coldpress Watercolor Panels. As an amateur watercolor painter, I’ve often struggled with loose paper buckling and warping under the weight of heavy saturation, washes, and lifting. This panel allowed me to work freely without the prep work of stretching and taping. 

For Oil 

The drawing and watercolor tests were all a build-up for the experiment I was most anticipating—plein air painting on the Stonehenge Oil Panel. I’ve spent years painting outdoors and adjusting my setup and surface. This lightweight, durable panel could become my go-to surface. It was easy to transport and ready to paint on, making it truly a “grab-and-go” surface. I’m a rather heavy-handed painter and my surfaces need to handle aggressive scrubbing, scraping and solvent use in the initial layers. The panel, I’m pleased to say, held up superbly under heavy applications of solvent and oil paints.

Final Thoughts

What truly impressed me about the new Aluminum Panels was the craftsmanship; in particular, the care and precision that went into the mounting of the papers onto the panels. Even with extensive soaking in water and solvent, the bond remained strong without any evidence of separation at the edges. It’s clear that Legion understands the needs of artists. Whether you’re a painter, illustrator, or mixed-media artist, these panels are potential game-changers.

Meet the Artist

Scott Maier is an artist and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s also the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.