You’ve heard about gesso. You’ve seen ads for it. But it’s possible you’re new to the method of applying your own gesso, or even completely new to painting with acrylic. So, what is gesso, and how do you use it in your next canvas art project?
THE BASIC GESSO DEFINITION
In most basic terms, gesso is a fluid primer. You wouldn’t dream of painting your car without first using a base. For the same factor you shouldn’t attempt to apply paint on canvas without it. Liquid in the bottle, it dries to produce a small textured surface area. Artists agree that the best degree of prep can make a big difference! Especially in the way the acrylic paint sticks to the canvas
IS GESSO AS A CANVAS PAINT PRIMER NEEDED?
This binder is an essential enhancement to your art supply tool box. The use of canvas primer alters the tool you’re dealing with. Left in its raw state, the unprimed canvas will soak up acrylic paint. This causes the production of art work that features spotty areas.
When you paint on canvas for your project, use acrylic gesso to prime it first. It creates the base ground, preparing most types of surface areas for paint. Sculptors have used it to prepare their sculptures for bronzing applications. Referencing a painter handbook may recommend the use of this white pigment. Start your art project faster by using ready-made acrylic gesso. You can even apply the primer on rubber.
If you intend to produce art with accuracy, gesso is essential.
HOW THE OLD MASTERS MADE GESSSO
Making gesso has altered over the centuries. When the Old Masters worked with oil paint, they used primer on their canvas. Back then, it was an item derived from animal skins rendered glue binder. They applied it as a binder for egg tempera. Doing so caused a glue-like mix spread over the product. It would provide “tooth” to the surface area. The primer also enabled paint to adhere to the surface. This allowed for skilled layering.
WHAT IS GESSO USED FOR?
There are no gesso substitutes for the acrylic painter that knows. When dealing with a canvas of any type, you’re dealing with a fabric. Consider how much of your acrylic paint the fabric takes in. Without gesso, nothing prevents the paint from saturating into the weave.
What is gesso used for when you don’t desire that outcome? For beginners, it seals the fibers of the canvas. It won’t soak up the acrylic paint as an unprimed canvas would. That’s because gesso gets absorbed rather than the liquid paint. Besides that, it produces a slight structure. This process enables the paint to stick to the canvas with accuracy.
The most critical aspect is the degree of control that this binder offers. Include one layer of it, and you could get some soaking. Including more layers increases the likelihood of preventing it. Best of all, you can vary the use based on the artwork you intend to produce. This tool is an ally for the artist that demands precise brush stroke control.
Is it feasible to prime your stretched canvas without the use of gesso? Some enthusiasts have played with different solutions. They tried watered down matte polymer featuring some uses for it. Caution: it will not provide the canvas the tooth or bite that makes the paint adhere. It’s fair to say that gesso is the best solution for prepping a surface area.
HOW TO PRIME CANVAS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME
What is gesso acrylic paint other than a layer of canvas primer? It makes good sense that you to let the canvas get bone dry. What amount of time do we need?
One hour. Wait one hour in between added coats. Several acrylic canvas artists have a formula that they advocate. It might need several layers of gesso to attain it. Wait in between each coat for optimum further adhesion.
Wait till the extra coats are dry to the touch. Experienced artists will look for lift. You want to feel for the lift by touching it. It there is none, then you are good to go.
When you work with oil paints, you can’t take any type of chances. Wait 24 hours from the time that you used the last layer of gesso. Time your paint application, even if the canvas does not feel right to the touch.
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