Gessos

Sort by
  • Featured
  • Best selling
  • Alphabetically, A-Z
  • Alphabetically, Z-A
  • Price, low to high
  • Price, high to low
  • Date, old to new
  • Date, new to old

Gessos - More than just a primer


Gesso is an Italian word for ‘plaster’ and is made from a combination of paint pigment, chalk and binder. It is a basic art supply that is similar to white acrylic paint, just thinner and is mostly used for preparing or priming a surface for painting, making the surface slightly textured and ready to accept the paint. Gessos can be applied to almost any surface and then painted on with acrylics, oils or spray paints. Traditionally gessos are white but you can also get clear, black and coloured gessos. To apply gessos, simply paint onto the canvas using a brush.

Even if a canvas is pre-primed, many artists still prefer adding a layer of gesso to increase the texture, tooth and absorbency of the canvas and to even create an impasto look.

White gesso can also be added to acrylic paint to make a tin and give it a more matte finish.

The main uses of gesso:
1. Priming surfaces before painting
2. Adding texture
3. Making art paper sturdier or art journaling and mixed media projects
4. Toning down colours on your painting that appear too bright

Tips for applying gesso:
1. Stir or shake gesso before use to make sure all the ingredients are properly mixed.
2. Gesso is pretty hard on brushes, so have 1 brush or roller just for applying gesso
3. When using as a primer on a surface, apply at least 2 thin coats of gesso - one horizontally and one vertically - letting it dry between coats.
4. Allow the gesso to dry/cure naturally.
Read more Read less

100% Secure Payment

Free Shipping Orders Over €75

Up to 40% off on selected items

100% Customer Satisfaction