When choosing between plain wood and primed & painted blanks, the main difference is how absorbent the surface is. A primed and painted blank already has a base layer, which means your paints will sit on top more vividly and with less soaking into the wood. Plain wood, on the other hand, is just as easy to paint, but because it hasn’t been sealed, it will absorb more of the paint. If your goal is stronger, brighter colors that pop, starting with a primed surface gives you that extra lift, but if you prefer the wood look, then the plain wood option is for you