Acrylic Gesso I Use-Utrecht Gesso

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Acrylic Gesso I Use-Utrecht Professional Acrylic Gesso

What is gesso? Gesso is a primer used over canvas to seal it so that the paint doesn't seep into the canvas. If you've purchased a canvas before, the surface has already been coated with gesso - that's why it's white. It is usually added in multiple layers by the canvas manufacturer and then sanded smooth. Gesso gives you time to move the paint around on the surface of the canvas (or any other substrate you may use). Gesso is used as a primer for both oil and acrylic paint, and has a tooth to it that hold the paint to it. Back in the day before the advent of gesso, rabbit glue was used as canvas primer-yuk!

I have used gesso from all of the major paint manufacturers and without questions, the one that works best for my needs is Utrecht Professional Acrylic Gesso. It is the smoothest, creamiest and has the most titanium of any brand that I tested. I have used this product for at least a dozen years and it is the best of the best.

I use it to seal my watercolor paper before painting. It keeps the paint from being absorbed into the paper, and gives me time to work with the paint. It also provides a bit of texture (I lay it on pretty thick), and it creates the same surface on my paper that I have on my canvases. The first thing I do when I buy a canvas is to add a textured layer of gesso over it. I'm sure you're asking, "Why re-coat with more gesso?" I like the added texture, and the Utrecht gesso creates a very smooth surface on which to work. Often canvases aren't properly sanded at the manufacturer and the surface can be very rough, thus chewing up paint brushes.

Utrecht Professional Acrylic Gesso is a product I can't (and won't) paint without. It can be purchased at utrecht.com and dickblick.com as well as Dick Blick retail stores. Get some for your studio and let me know how you like it.

If you're interested in learning how to apply paint with more spontaneity and freedom, join me for an upcoming workshop: (You can view a list of 2018 workshops HERE)

As always, thanks so much for your support!

David

P.S. If you cannot attend a live event, or prefer to learn online in the comfort of your home or studio, Abstract Painting Academy is my online workshop:

Abstract Painting Academy is the next best thing to a live workshop. You can learn more about the program by Clicking HERE. 

Price Reduced $100 through June!