Gesso: What it is and how to use it
Gesso originated in Italy in the Middle Ages as a simple means of preparing wooden surfaces for painting.
Today, Gesso is made differently, but its purpose hasn’t really changed.
In fact, with Gesso you can prime your canvases, making them smoother and reducing paint absorption (a cotton canvas can absorb a certain amount of paint).
Used on canvas, Gesso also has a major advantage: it masks the weft effects of the fabric.
It can be used to create an undercoat for your various substrates:
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- Wood
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- Canvas frames
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- Thick paper
- Cardboard
Gesso can also be used for creative effects such as creating textures with a painting knife.
How to use Gesso
Brush / spalter
This is the classic and most common use. All you need to do is take some Gesso directly from the jar and apply it to your canvas (in a criss-cross pattern, for example).
I recommend you apply at least two coats of Gesso to achieve a beautiful result.
Gesso is applied in several stages.
Step 1:
Apply a first coat with a small amount of gesso. Take the time to cover everything thoroughly. You can also do this for the edges of your stand.
Step 2:
Allow the Gesso to dry completely.
Step 3:
Use sandpaper to lightly sand your canvas. This will remove any excess Gesso and ensure a smooth finish.
You can then return to step 1 to start a new layer.
Texturing with a knife and Gesso
Here’s something I often use and love to do to make an abstract painting. Gesso can be used to create superb textures.
All you have to do is take the Gesso directly from the jar with your knife and apply it using different strokes.
Unlike brush or spalter application, knife application requires more Gesso.
Drying time will be longer depending on the amount of Gesso used.
This type of application lets you create superb effects that can be varied ad infinitum.
You can then paint directly over it (once dry).
Buying Gesso on the Internet
If you wish to buy Gesso on the Internet, I recommend the following link:
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