My icon boards are gessoed solid linden (basswood) and premium maple veneer panels. These panels are suitable for all media, especially egg tempera, and also oil, watercolor, and acrylic. My apprentice and I prepare the surface by hand, sized with rabbit skin glue and a cotton muslin interlaggio. We brush on many coats of true gesso, made from scratch with chalk and rabbit skin glue. The boards are wet sanded marble smooth, ready for painting and gilding.

The backs of the premium maple veneer panels showcase the beautiful maple grain and are routed with a keyhole slot for easy hanging. The edges of premium maple-veneer poplar panels are painted with traditional red ochre. The edges of solid linden panels are left unpainted.

Flat panels are just over 3/4-inch thick; panels with an ark (kovcheg, or raised border) are just over 7/8 inch thick. Solid linden panels are about 1” thick.

If you can’t find what you need here, please visit my apprentice’s website for more selection and to inquire about custom sizes and bulk orders.