Most paintings from the 13th to the 16th century that have survived in good condition were painted directly onto wooden art boards. Paintings done on canvas are most frequently damaged by flexing, which causes the paint to crack. Different woods were favored by artists of various countries. Each type of wood has unique characteristics. The most common modern wood panel used as a paint surface is maple, though modern art boards of many materials, varying from absorbent to very hard, are used for different effects. Almost all fruit woods have been used as art panels over the centuries.
To prevent damage to paintings made on soft media such as canvas or paper, archival art boards are commonly used. An archival board is made of wood or another solid material with an adhesive onto which the painting can be affixed. The adhesive is designed so that the artwork will be held firmly so as to prevent flexing and cracking, but can be removed without damage. Special types of archival boards are made for watercolors and other paintings made on delicate media.
Hard wood blocks with appealing grain patterns are used for making engravings. These blocks are designed to stand as artwork in their own right. The hardness of the wood maintains the integrity of the finished artwork. Sometimes a light finish is applied to the finished art both to preserve the wood and to give it a light sheen.
Woodcut blocks are made of soft wood. They are used in making stylized prints called woodcuts. Once the original design is carved into the wood, it is dipped into ink and applied to paper to make a particular number of prints. Often, after a set number of prints are made, the original block is destroyed. The key to the value of using soft woods for woodcut blocks is its ability to absorb and cleanly transfer inks, while it is not necessary that the blocks hold up well over a long period of time.