Gesso Comparisons

I need your opinions on gesso's. Michaels has now changed their paint line ups, they have the higher end liquidtex stuff, impossibly small bottles of golden gesso, something by art alternatives, and Fredrix premium gesso.

Only Art Alternatives and Fredrix Premium comes in a size larger than a quart and that being a gallon.

I'm painting larger and am plowing through gesso like crazy.

Have you worked with either Art Alternatives or Fredrix Premium and if so what is your opinion??? The Fredrix states on the bottle that you need to prime first if you plan to use it on canvas.

Kimberly

I've never use the Art Alternatives of the Fredrix Premium. I've used the Basics and Liquitex and so far I really don't see a difference. Interesting to know if their is a difference from brand to brand.

I recently bought Dick Blick's brand called Master Gesso at $31.83 a gallon. I like it a lot, although it's so thick that I really need to water it down a lot. I had a friend over to go through a cd on painting water and since it was practice, we used large pieces of cardboard that I had gessoed with the Master Gesso. The CD directions were to use lindseed oil on the canvas and wipe it back with a paper towel. I had never done that before, and I think I left way too much linseed oil on it. We painted for about three hours, with backing up the CD and pausing it to practice painting. Every time the practice changed, we wiped down the board with a paper towel and started painting again. The gesso did not stain. My friend wanted to keep the last practice section, so we let it dry and it came out fine (took over a week to dry though). Anyway, I can vouch for the Dick Blick Master Gesso. When I just now went to Dick Blick to get the name of it, I noticed they have a Dick Blick Studio Gesso at only $16.99 a gallon and it has higher reviews than the Master Gesso. I would probably give that a try next time. Good Luck!
Dayle

Kimberly: I just remembered that you like to paint thickly and thought that with the Dick Blick Master Gesso you could do all sorts of interesting textures on your canvas. The Master Gesso is so thick that you could put an undiluted layer of gesso on, using a spackle knife and make any type of texture that you might like. Anyway, good luck.

Dayle

Crystal1 wrote:

Kimberly: I just remembered that you like to paint thickly and thought that with the Dick Blick Master Gesso you could do all sorts of interesting textures on your canvas. The Master Gesso is so thick that you could put an undiluted layer of gesso on, using a spackle knife and make any type of texture that you might like. Anyway, good luck.

Dayle

Hmmmmmmmmm will have to see about buying some then!

I was at Michaes today, 50% off coupon PLUS an additional 15% off of everything from 9am-1pm only. I bought the art alternatives it's thicker than the Fredrix and doesn't require priming if applying it to canvas. Since I'm working mostly with paper, canvas pads, I really don't require anything special other than the shellac which I already have, but I also paint with acrylic and gouche so wanted a good all purpose gesso.

More later.

Kimberly

I am glad you brought up this topic. I find that i enjoy painting on a smoother surface rather than fighting with the tooth of the canvas. And I find the WM oils very thin. I owuld like to be able to prime my canvas and sand it as well as use a product to thicken like an impasto. but I haven't used either so I need some advice as well

Dale: I don't like to see my paint skipping along the canvas, so I make a smooth canvas. I was taught to thin the 1st two layers of gesso to a cream-like consistency, and let them dry in between coats. Those coats need to be thin so that they can completely adhere to the canvas. Then sand very lightly. Apply 2 more coats that are not as thin, but if the gesso is still too thick, you'll see brushstrokes on your canvas. Sand lightly again. Sorry, I don't know how to paint impasto. Good to see you back!

Dayle

Thanks for the advice Dayle. I am looking forward to trying this.