What you need to know about gesso #painting #paintingoncanvas #paintingonwood

Check out my recent vids on surface prep👩‍🎨 Caption for more details.

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I always size first because I want to create the most permanent, archival painting surface as possible. Also, it means I can be less rigid about the type/depth of primer I use, knowing that the paint & surface are protected from each other with a good sealing layer. But after my video on sizing a few people asked if it’s really necessary to size first before acrylic gesso & the answer is no, as long as you apply enough layers!

(by surface I mean anything you paint on from the traditional wood panel or unprimed canvas to paper, metal or other.)

Gesso is actually absorbent (to varying degrees based on brand and type) & depending on brand it won’t properly seal unless you build it up.

For those who missed my video a size is a couple layers of a sealer (usually PH neutral PVA, acrylic gloss medium, GAC 100, rabbit skin glue, or other acrylic polymer medium) that stops a surface from discolouring acrylics (Support Induced Discolouration or SID) or stops oil paints from corroding the surface. It can also add tension to a stretched canvas. A primer’s job is simply to grip the paint you put on top & make sure it stays bonded to the surface over time. A size & primer serve 2 different purposes but in this case one product can be both if applied properly.

[Gurimax]

i used it for the first time and i didn't know it was gonna be that messy but like the results now i'll be able to go more in detail on my canvas

[yibuseato]

Can you explain what a ground is, when it comes to oil painting? How does it differ from a gesso/primer? thanks! your content is a wealth of

[shubhanshrana]

Hey I wanted to ask if I need to wait for my acrylic gesso to fully cure if I’m using oil paints over it like we do when we need to layer oil over acrylic paints or I can start painting over it once the gesso is touch dry
Also wanted to thank you for your advice and tips are really helping me grow as a painter

[johnaitken]

I usually sand slightly once hard…any thoughts?I think it’s a style thing as I use very thin passes

[RealJoker-nymm]

I ordered artina white gesso its so much think its comes running quality does is good or i should return it i don't know know about the gesso too much

[azalia_moon]

Hello! Do you need to wet your canvas before the gesso? Also is it a must to sand it?

[cmt]

Can I use acrylic gesso on furniture as a primer for my acrylic paint ?