Instead of the more common canvas or wood supports, copper plates have been used as a support for paintings. Copper was extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries, and the paintings look as brilliant and colourful today as they did then. It is a fantastic resource to work with. I'll show you how to prepare a copper plate for oil painting in this article. Copper Preparation for Painting It couldn't be easier to prepare a panel for painting on. In fact, it requires far less effort than most other supports! This is what you require: • sandpaper made from copper plate • Cleaning gloves with methylated spirit • ...