Preparing Your Canvas for Acrylic Paint: All About Gesso Options

Materials:

• Gesso (Clear, Black, Colored, Acrylic, Super heavy)

• Paintbrush

• Canvas

Before diving into the wonderful world of acrylic painting, it is essential to properly prepare your canvas to achieve the best results. One of the most crucial steps in this process is applying a layer of gesso. Gesso not only enhances the longevity of your artwork but also provides a smooth and durable surface for the acrylic paint to adhere to. In this blog entry, we will explore different kinds of gesso and their application techniques to help you choose the most suitable one for your artistic journey.

1. Traditional Gesso: Traditional gesso is an age-old formula that has been used by artists for centuries. It typically consists of a mixture of animal glue, chalk, and white pigment. This type of gesso is often favored due to its excellent adhesive properties and smooth finish. To apply traditional gesso, use a wide brush and spread an even layer over your canvas. Allow it to dry thoroughly before moving on to the painting phase.

2. Acrylic Gesso: Acrylic gesso is the go-to option for most contemporary artists. As the name suggests, this type of gesso is primarily made from acrylic polymer, making it more flexible and less prone to cracking over time. Acrylic gesso also dries faster and is more resistant to yellowing compared to traditional gesso. Apply acrylic gesso using a brush or a roller, ensuring a consistent coverage across the entire canvas surface.

3. Black Gesso: Black gesso is an exciting alternative for artists looking to experiment with unconventional color schemes. It provides a dark base that adds depth and richness to your paintings, especially when working with opaque or metallic acrylic paints. When using black gesso, follow the same application techniques as traditional or acrylic gesso, ensuring even coverage and smoothness before moving on to painting.

4. Clear Gesso: For artists wanting to retain the natural color and texture of their canvas, clear gesso is the perfect choice. It acts as a primer without altering the appearance of the canvas, allowing the paint to hold onto the fibers effectively. Apply clear gesso in the same manner as traditional or acrylic gesso, making sure to achieve a uniform layer.

5. Super Heavy Gesso: The purpose of super heavy gesso is to provide a thick and durable surface for artists to work on. It is a special type of gesso that has a higher concentration of ingredients like chalk, pigment, and binder, making it thicker and more opaque than regular gesso. Super heavy gesso is commonly used to create textured surfaces on canvases or wooden panels, allowing artists to have more control over their painting techniques. It also helps prevent the paint from absorbing into the surface, ensuring better color saturation and preventing the paint from seeping through. Overall, the purpose of super heavy gesso is to enhance the longevity and quality of artwork by providing a solid foundation for painting.

6. Colored Gesso: Some artists choose to color their gesso by mixing in a small amount of colored paint. Gesso can help provide tone by using it as an underpainting with reds and yellows creating a warmer tone and blues providing a cooler tone.

The choice of gesso depends on individual preferences, artistic style, and desired outcomes. Traditional gesso provides an age-old quality, while acrylic gesso offers durability and flexibility. Black gesso adds depth and contrast, while clear gesso retains the canvas's natural beauty. Whichever option you choose, remember that proper preparation is the key to achieving a flawless painting surface. So, grab your favorite gesso, get your canvas ready, and unleash your creativity with acrylic paints!