Canvas is perceived by many people to be the best support for painting, but hardboard should not be shunned and in fact some would argue that it’s a superior support as it’s rigid, not flexible like canvas.

What is hardboard?
Hardboard is the term used for a board made from a hardwood such as oak, cedar, birch, walnut, or mahogany. Softwoods such as pine are not suitable for painting on because they contain excess resins and tend to crack.

What’s the difference between hardboard, Masonite, MDF, and plywood?
These terms tend to be used interchangeably when people mean a board or wood panel rather than canvas. Masonite, which is often used as a painting support, is a trademarked brand name of a particular type board made (in very basic terms) from sawdust fibres and glue that is moulded into flat boards. High-grade or furniture plywood makes a good painting support. Extremely smooth plywood is made from birch, mahogany, and poplar. Another painting surface to consider is a hollow core door -- a perfect panel and lighter than Masonite. Laminated board have a mica film on its surface to give it resistance and strength; check which side sands better and use this side to paint on.