These Baltic Birch panels are just the right size and thickness for using a variety of painting techniques, including scratching or carving into a paint layer, sanding, etc. especially if you're just getting used to a particular way of painting. Sturdy and if you add a 1/2" cradle to the back can be inserted into a purchased "floating" style frame for great effect! Photos: 2 of my paintings in a recent art show, the square ones with gold trim "float" frames, made using acrylic paint on 12x12" Woodpeckers Crafts panels. The portrait is a recent experiment using various materials and techniques, also on a 12x12" panel