Painting

Acrylic Gesso

Acrylic gesso is a fairly new art material—new, that is, by the standards of how long painters have painted and with what materials they have worked.  The origin of gesso dates back to the earliest formal painting masters.  About fifty years ago there was no such thing as water-based acrylic colors and no such thing as acrylic gesso; and no gels, either—none of the dozens of products that grace today’s art material shelves.  We often take for granted the presence of such materials, but before 1955 they didn’t exist.

Polymer products became widely available in the ‘50s after their invention and marketing. At the time, they caused an explosion of new expressive works.  No more making gesso or waiting for canvases to dry…far less exposure to potentially toxic materials…colors fresh and exciting right from the tube.  These were new for the time and grabbed the attention of thousands of emerging artists.  Many new, inventive applications for paints were introduced.

Because they are so “new,” many conservators have debated the life expectancy of acrylic polymer products.  But research is proving that they are often more stable and long-lived than oils.  Because of the gradual deterioration of oils—yellowing, cracking and chipping—acrylics are proving to be more dependable over the long haul.  Their adhesion and color retention are remarkable.

In almost every type of painting, artists have need of a surface pre-treatment.  With acrylic painting, the choice is most often acrylic gesso.  For centuries, traditional oil painters created their own gesso through a laborious technique of cooking hide glue and chalk.  The glue was often rabbit skin glue, but others were also used.  Artists used this substance to seal the surface of wood panels on which they painted.  This allowed the paint to set above the substrate rather than sink into it.  Gesso made in this fashion is not suitable for canvas preparation, but it is an excellent concoction and has stood the test of time.  Its adhesion qualities are undisputable.

Today’s acrylic polymer gesso is water-based, water cleanable and is comprised of titanium dioxide and acrylic binder.  It is super smooth right from the tub or jar and easily brushed, rolled or applied with a paint pad over any surface that is to be decorated; and it dries quickly. Acrylic gesso is available in several colors or can be tinted with acrylic paints.  It is relatively inexpensive and readily found at art material stores.

Gesso is considered a richly opaque white for all artistic applications.  Watercolor artists often use gesso to create areas of extreme white for highlight and final reflections in their work.  Oil painters use it prior to painting to seal the weave and absorbency of their canvas, just as acrylic artists do.  It is one product found in nearly every studio.

Graphite and colored pencil artists can also utilize some of the qualities of acrylic gesso.  For a super smooth work surface, coat heavy cotton fiber paper with gesso.  Allow it to dry, and then lightly sand the surface.  Recoat and re-sand.  Up to four coats can be applied and sanded to create a near glass-smooth finish on which to draw; and it is truly a pleasure to draw on such a “fluid” surface.

Gesso can be used to improve almost any surface for painting; it can be used to create opaque, rich, totally white areas; and it can impart texture over which the artist may apply washes and dilute tones.  Texture is reason enough to use gesso, but is only one of its many attributes.  Low odor, smooth finish, easy clean-up…the list continues. 

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 12 — October 2007