I recently tried out a new drawing surface called Rising Museum board, made by Legion, and I wanted to share my experience with you. I used it for a detailed cowgirl portrait, and it was so much fun! So, let’s hear more about the surface!

I usually avoid smooth, hot-press papers like Fabriano Artistico because they have never really worked for me. I find I have to use too much pressure and it hurts my joints. Instead, I stuck with surfaces like Pastelmat and drafting film. But this time, I decided to give Rising Museum Board a shot, and I’m so glad I did.

Rather than doing small swatches, I went all in with a large piece (16×20 inches). I find that working on a full piece helps me truly understand what a new surface can or can’t do. I tested a bunch of techniques, like using my slice tool, Exacto knife, and indenting methods. I also experimented with layering colours and using Scotch tape to see how the surface held up.I recently tried out a new drawing surface called Rising Museum board, made by Legion, and I wanted to share my experience with you. I used it for a detailed cowgirl portrait, and it was so much fun! So, let’s hear more about the surface!I recently tried out a new drawing surface called Rising Museum board, made by Legion, and I wanted to share my experience with you. I used it for a detailed cowgirl portrait, and it was so much fun! So, let’s hear more about the surface!

For this cowgirl drawing, I used a mix of pencils:

• Polychromos
• Luminance
• Lightfast
• Derwent Drawing Pencils

The Rising Museum board handled both hard and soft pencils really well. I could switch between Polychromos and Luminance without any issues but I found Lightfast pencils worked best after I had a few layers down.

Breaking It Down

When I was talking to my Ignite members about this piece, I realised each section of the drawing needed its own set of pencils, so here’s a quick rundown:

Hat: Polychromos Walnut Brown, Polychromos Black, Derwent Drawing Ivory Black, and Derwent Drawing Chocolate.

Hair: Luminance Brown Ochre, Butternut, and Lightfast Mars Black.

Skin Tones: Luminance Burnt Ochre 10%, Buff Titanium, Terracotta, and Lightfast Mars Black, Venetian Red.

Shirt: Sky Blue, Indian Blue, Ultramarine, and Luminance Light Cobalt Blue, Warm Greys with a White or Cold Grey over the top.

Saddlery: Polychromos Sanguine, Burnt Sienna, Caput Mortuum Violet, and Lightfast Mars Black.

Jeans: Polychromos Dark Indigo, Black, Indanthrene Blue, Helio Blue Reddish and Luminance Dark Indigo.

I was really happy with how this piece turned out. It took a lot of time, especially focusing on the shadows and textures. I ended up free handing most of the textures because detailed line art was just too overwhelming. The drawing didn’t match the reference photo exactly, but that’s the beauty of realism—you can take creative liberties.

If you’re thinking about trying a new surface, I highly recommend the Legion Rising Museum Board. It supports light-to-dark work, various tools, and multiple layers. Just be careful with Scotch tape and test it first to avoid lifting the surface. This board is a versatile and exciting option for your next art project. Give it a go and see how it works for you!