Baltic birch panels give you a strong, stable foundation for your artwork. To make the most of that wood and support your paintings over time, every panel needs one thing first, no matter what you plan to paint with.
It needs to be sealed.
Once the panel is sealed, you can customize the surface for oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, and mixed media with the right ground or primer. This guide walks you through that process step by step.
Step 1: Seal the Baltic birch panel
Raw wood is naturally absorbent and acidic. If you paint straight onto unsealed wood, it can pull oil and binder out of your paint, cause uneven absorption, and create long term stability issues.
Sealing the panel creates a barrier that:
- Helps block acids and tannins from the wood.
- Controls how much paint and medium soak in.
- Provides a better base for whatever primer or ground you use next.
At Trekell, we seal our Baltic birch panels with Golden GAC 100. It is a versatile acrylic polymer used to block support induced discoloration and to create a more stable, less absorbent surface underneath your primer or ground.
There are many good sealing options on the market. If you already have a favorite clear sealer or isolation coat that is compatible with your medium and primer, you can use what works best for your process. The important thing is that the wood is sealed before you start priming.
How to seal your panel
Always follow the instructions for the specific sealer you choose. As a general guideline, you can treat Golden GAC 100 or a similar sealer this way:
- Lightly sand the panel surface and edges to remove any dust or raised fibers.
- Wipe away sanding dust with a clean, dry cloth.
- Apply a thin, even coat of sealer with a brush or suitable applicator, working it into the surface.
- Allow it to dry fully according to the product directions.
- If the grain has raised or the surface feels rough, lightly sand and wipe clean.
- Apply a second thin coat if you want extra insurance against absorption and discoloration.
One coat of sealer is often enough for smaller works or when you plan to build up several layers of primer or ground on top. A second coat can be helpful if you want more control over absorbency, are working on larger panels, or simply prefer extra protection.
Once the panel is sealed and dry, you have a more controlled, stable surface to build on. From here, the steps change depending on your painting medium.
After sealing: choose your path by medium
With a sealed Baltic birch panel, you are ready to decide how you want the surface to feel and how absorbent you want it to be. The next steps will be different for each medium and can be tailored using the primers and grounds we carry. Oil Ground pictured below:
For Oil Painting
Oil paint needs a ground that is compatible, protective, and not overly absorbent. After sealing your panel, you can choose from several options we offer for oil painters:
- Gamblin Oil Painting Ground for a traditional, bright white oil ground that lets your paint sit beautifully on the surface.
- Michael Harding Non-Absorbent Acrylic Primer for an acrylic primer that does not leech oil from your paints and keeps colors looking rich.
- Golden Gesso for an acrylic gesso ground that is suitable for oil painting when applied over a properly sealed panel.
General application approach:
- Apply your chosen oil ground or primer in thin, even coats according to the manufacturer’s directions.
- Let each coat dry completely before adding the next.
- Lightly sand between coats if you want a smoother surface.
- Allow the final layer to cure fully before painting.
The choice comes down to how absorbent or slick you like your oil painting surface to be. An oil ground will feel a bit different from a non-absorbent acrylic primer, even though both are designed with oil painters in mind.
For Acrylic Painting
Acrylics are more flexible and can tolerate a range of surfaces, but you still want a consistent, sealed panel and a reliable acrylic ground. After sealing, you can use:
- Golden Gesso for an opaque white, toothy ground that feels familiar to most acrylic painters.
- Golden Matte Medium as a translucent or clear gesso to let the wood or underlying layers show through while still providing tooth for acrylic paint.
General application approach:
- Apply Golden Gesso or Golden Matte Medium in thin layers with a brush or roller.
- Let each layer dry completely before adding another.
- Sand between coats if you prefer a smoother, less textured surface.
Use Golden Gesso when you want a more traditional, opaque ground. Use Golden Matte Medium when you want to keep the look of the wood, line work, or underpainting visible under your acrylic layers.
For Gouache and Mixed Media
Gouache and mixed media often do well on a slightly more absorbent, matte surface that still has the sealed wood underneath.
After sealing the panel, many artists will:
- Use an acrylic gesso, such as Golden Gesso, to create a matte, toothy surface that accepts gouache and other water-based media.
- Keep the ground relatively thin so the surface does not become too slick for gouache’s rewettability.
Because gouache can be used in many ways and every artist has different preferences, it is a good idea to test your favorite combination of sealer and ground on a small panel first to see how it feels for your particular approach.
Golden’s pastel and drawing grounds are designed for dry media and drawing applications, but they can also play a role in mixed media work. They are best used when you want a textured, toothy surface for pastel, charcoal, pencil, or similar media over your sealed panel. If you are primarily painting with gouache, you will usually reach for gesso or a similar paint-focused ground first, and bring pastel or drawing grounds in where you specifically want that extra texture for dry marks.
For Watercolor
Watercolor is traditionally used on paper, but sealed Baltic birch panels can become a great base when you add the right layer on top.
After sealing the panel, you have two main options:
- Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground to turn the sealed panel into a watercolor-friendly surface. It creates a texture similar to cold-press watercolor paper so you can paint directly on the panel.
- Mount your favorite watercolor paper onto the sealed panel using an appropriate adhesive, then paint on the paper as you normally would.
As always, it is worth doing a small test first to see how your specific paints behave on Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground or on mounted paper over a sealed panel.
Step 3: Test your surface before you commit
Before you start a finished piece, it is worth doing a quick test on the prepared panel.
- Make a few strokes and washes with your chosen medium.
- Check how quickly paint is absorbed.
- See how easy it is to lift or adjust areas if your medium allows it.
- Notice whether edges stay crisp or soften more than you like.
If the surface feels too absorbent, you can add another coat of ground or gesso. If it feels too slick, a light sanding or a different ground can increase tooth and control.
A flexible system built on one foundation
Every Trekell panel starts with the same Baltic birch foundation, but your prep choices are what make it perfect for oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, or mixed media.
The simple formula is:
- Seal the wood.
- Choose the right ground or primer for your medium.
- Adjust texture and absorbency with multiple coats and sanding.
- Test the surface before you start a major piece.
Once you have a sealing and priming routine you like, you will have panels that feel familiar and reliable every time you paint, no matter which medium you reach for.
If you are ready to explore different shapes and sizes, you can see all of our Baltic birch panels here: Baltic Birch Panels, and you can find the grounds and primers mentioned above in our Grounds and Primers.
