Gesso and Priming Materials
What is Gesso, Exactly? Gesso is a valuable tool in the artist’s tool chest. Gesso looks sort of like paint, but it is much thinner. It is used to prepare or prime surfaces for painting, sculpting, and gilding. Although the origins of gesso are not clear, most artists agree that it hails from Italy, as the term “gesso” translates in Italian to the word “chalk”. Gesso is applied with a paint brush and is allowed to dry before any paint is applied.
This Week's Featured Products in Gesso and Priming Materials
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Bob Ross Gesso This water-based primer should be applied very thinly with a foam applicator, not a brush, and allowed to dry completely before you begin painting in the Bob Ross technique. 16 oz (473 ml) plastic bottle. |
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Lead Oil Ground This is a traditional ground made from pure lead carbonate and just enough marble dust to achieve the desired amount of tooth and absorbency. Lead Oil Ground is a heavy, thick formulation. |
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Semi-Absorbent Gesso for Watercolor Sennelier Semi-Absorbent Gesso creates a matte, porous surface similar to watercolor paper that allows for improved penetration and diffusion of color for watercolors, egg tempera, gouache, or casein. It also provides a resistance to water that is greater than traditional watercolor paper. |
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In its earliest forms, gesso was made in such a way that it was brittle and prone to cracking, typically from powdered chalk and animal glue. Modern day gesso is made using a mix of pigments, acrylic polymers and calcium carbonate. This new generation blend allows gesso to be more flexible.
Most artists are a bit picky about their choice of gesso. While some artists prefer a gesso that provides a smooth surface, others like to work on a surface with a bit more tooth to it. Gessos vary on their level of absorbency. The best way to find out which gesso is the one that you like best is to try a small sample of each one. You can purchase small jars or cans of gesso of various brands and experiment to find the one that you like most.
When all is “said and done”, gesso’s job is to provide an optimal working surface. This is especially crucial when you are working on an acrylic base with oil paints. Nonetheless, some gessos are made to be sanded to a smooth finish.