Gesso is a white, plaster-based substance used to prepare or “prime” surfaces for painting. The purpose of modern gesso is the same as traditional gesso: to provide a smooth, primed surface for painting. Modern gesso is usually made of a mixture of Calcium Carbonate, a binder (like acrylic polymer emulsion), and pigment (to create a white, opaque, or colored surface). The ingredients are mixed with water to create a smooth and spreadable consistency that can be easily applied to various surfaces, including canvas, wood, paper, and more. This creates an ideal base for artists to work on, providing them with a smooth (or textured) surface that allows their brushstrokes and colors to stand out more clearly than they would on untreated canvas or wood and save on paints since you won’t need as many layers to cover the canvas surface. Gesso also helps protect the underlying material from damage caused by water and oil-based paints and the solvents used with them, which could otherwise cause cracking, damage the canvas, cause discoloration, and other forms of deterioration over time. Beginner artists might e tempted to start working right away on the non-prepped surface and skip the (sometimes) “strenuous and time-consuming” process of prepping the canvas with gesso. Applying gesso can get as hard as the size of your canvas and the technique you’re going to use, but if you’re a beginner, then one or two layers applied with a cheap brush will be more than enough.
What is Gesso?
If you are new to acrylics, you may be wondering – what is gesso and why do I need to know about it? Step right up – this page will tell you all about the glories of gesso and how to use it.
Gesso is an important art supply to get your canvas ready for painting. You can buy gesso readymade from any art supply shop. Gesso is very similar to white acrylic paint, only thinner. It dries hard, making the surface more stiff. Gesso prepares (or “primes”) the surface for painting, making the surface slightly textured and ready to accept acrylic paint. Without gesso, the paint would soak into the weave of the canvas.
The word gesso is a noun, but many artists also use it as a verb. For example: “You need to gesso your canvas before you paint.”
The beauty of gesso is that you can apply it to nearly any surface, and then you can paint on that surface with acrylic paint. For example, you can apply a layer or two of gesso to vinyl records, rubber duckies, or cigar boxes, and voila – you can now paint on that object with acrylics! What fun. The possibilities are endless!
Different types of gesso
Gesso is traditionally white, but nowadays you can also buy black, clear gesso and colored gesso readymade (these link to Blick Art Materials, and if you make a purchase I get a small commission that helps support this site). You can also tint your gesso to make any color you want. Just mix a little acrylic paint to the gesso, and you’ve got some tinted gesso!
There are two different grades of gesso: Artist grade and Student grade. The difference between the two amounts to the different ratios of pigment vs. filler. The Student grade is cheaper because it contains more filler than the Artist grade. Artist grade has more pigment than Student grade, making it thicker and more opaque. These differences are reflected in the price, and also in the quality. Student grade is usually available only in white, but as mentioned earlier, you can add acrylic paint to the gesso to make it more pigmented.
The consistency and texture of gesso will vary from brand to brand. Some are more liquidy and others are more thick. Some apply more smoothly and others leave a more textured, toothy surface. You’ll have to experiment with different brands to find the one you like best. Liquitex Super Heavy Gesso is great for applying sculptural effects to the canvas with a brush or palette knife.
Gesso comes in both squeeze bottle form and in large tubs or jars. With the squeeze bottles, you can squeeze the gesso right onto canvas and then smooth it out with a brush. You can also pour some onto your palette first if you want to mix the gesso with paint or water. If your gesso comes in a jar, you can stick your paintbrush right into the jar and apply it to the canvas.
Gesso is also available as a spray. What is gesso spray? You shake the can and spray the gesso directly onto your canvas, with no need for a brush.
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History of Gesso
Gesso has a long and rich history, it’s been present throughout most of our past, and its use can be traced back to ancient times, when it was used by the Greeks and Romans to prime and smooth their painting surfaces, including marble and frescoes. During the Renaissance, gesso was extensively used to create illuminated manuscripts, panel paintings, and even for sculpting. The composition of gesso has evolved over time, as well as the materials used to make it, especially with the use of chalk and titanium dioxide in the 19th and 20th centuries, respectively, and the addition of polymeric binders and other pigments.
There are several types of gesso nowadays; however, we can group them all into two main categories that will affect the quality and durability of your work and your budget, and those are Student-grade Gesso and Artist-grade Gess
Student Grade and Artist Grade Gesso
Student-grade gesso is typically more affordable and widely available than artist-grade gesso. It is formulated for basic priming needs and is suitable for students and beginners who are just starting out with their artwork. Student-grade gesso is usually made with lower-quality materials, tends to be more liquid and “runyn” and is designed to be used in a more limited capacity. As a result, it may not be as durable or provide the same level of surface quality as artist-grade gesso. Artist-grade gesso , on the other hand, is made with higher-quality materials and designed to meet professional artists’ needs. It is more expensive than student-grade gesso, but it provides a superior base for painting and drawing. Artist-grade gesso is made to provide a smoother and more consistent surface; it’s thicker than normal gesso allowing you to control the consistency by adding water. It also holds texture better in case that’s what you’re going for, with better adhesion and a more uniform appearance. Additionally, artist-grade gesso is often more flexible and durable than student-grade gesso, making it better suited for frequent use and for artworks that will be on display for a long time.
Black Gesso
While traditional gesso is white, now you can find black gesso as well, which is useful for paintings with an opaque, black background and to help intensify pigments and create contrast with lighter shades.
Colored Gesso
Similar to black gesso, various colored gessos are now available to help you cover larger areas, set a base for metallic pigments, or create gradients more efficiently.
Clear Gesso
Another modern form of gesso useful for diverse artistic applications is clear gesso (also known as transparent gesso). Clear gesso is helpful if an artist wants the underlying medium to show through (such as the rough surface of the canvas). Clear gesso is also used on mediums like paper, wood, and walls.
Heavy Gesso
This gesso is made specifically for heavily textured techniques, 3D effects, and thick applications with a knife or a textured brush. Perfect for impasto techniques since it holds its shape even after drying.
Note on Pre-Primed Canvases
It’s important to note that many pre-stretched canvases are often pre-primed with gesso. Keep this in mind when purchasing canvases or gesso, as you might not need to add too many layers, but note that even pre-primed canvas needs additional prepping, and you mustn’t skip this step.
Uses of Gesso
While the primary use of gesso is to prime surfaces before painting, it also has some additional utilities for artists; see below for more info:
Priming Painting Surfaces
When preparing a canvas or substrate for painting, gesso provides a “tooth,” which helps the paint adhere better to the surface.
Correcting Painting Mistakes
Because gesso acts as the ‘background’ of a painting, if there is a mistake that needs to be corrected, some artists may apply a small amount of gesso to a specific area of the painting and re-paint it.
Gesso as a Paint Lightener
Some artists prefer to use gesso instead of white paint to lighten the shade of paint. Artists have reported that they prefer the matte finish that gesso provides as opposed to a glossier finish that white paint might provide.
How To Apply Gesso
Applying gesso is an important step in creating a beautiful painting. Gesso can be applied with a paint roller, paintbrush, or paint sprayer and should be applied in thin, even coats. It is best to use a well-ventilated area when applying the gesso as it may create fumes. 
When using a brush or roller to apply the gesso, make sure you use smooth strokes and cover all areas evenly. If needed, the gesso can be thinned with water for a more straightforward application process. Once the first coat of gesso has been applied, it should be allowed to dry completely before adding additional coats. This will help ensure that your painting surface is properly prepared for painting on top of it later on down the line. 
Once all of your desired layers of gesso have been added and allowed to dry completely, it’s helpful to use fine-grit sandpaper to even the surface of your canvas if you want a smooth surface to paint on, on the other side; if you prefer having texture, then you can also use a textured brush, stencils or a textured roller to achieve the desired outcome before the gesso dries. 
Gesso is an essential part of the painting process, as it provides a number of benefits to both the artist and their work. Gesso acts as a primer for surfaces, allowing paint and mediums to be applied without soaking into the fibers or causing long-term damage. It also adds strength to paper and journal pages, preventing paint from seeping through. Additionally, gesso can add texture to a surface that will show through if not sanded down.
Tooth and Absorbency
One of the most important benefits of using gesso is its ability to give tooth and absorbency to a painting surface. This allows acrylic paint in particular, to adhere better than it would on other surfaces such as un-primed canvas or wood. The added texture helps create interesting effects when combined with different types of paints or mediums used in artwork creation. Without gesso, acrylic paint would simply soak into the weave of canvas instead of adhering properly, which could ruin any artwork and make the paints impossible to work with.
Adds Strength to Paper
For mediums such as paper, adding a layer of gesso can increase the strength of the page and avoid damage from sharp objects, like paint knives and marker tips or oversaturation.
Adds Texture to Surfaces
While best practice dictates that gesso should be sanded down to make a smooth surface, an artist can skip this step and leave a textured surface on which to paint.
What Is Gesso?
The Italian/Portuguese word Gesso is literally translated into English as plaster (or soft, white rock). When this chalk dust is mixed with white pigment and a binder, it was used as a primer substitute for paintings. Historically, the binder was usually rabbit-skin glue.
The modern version of gesso was developed by Henry Levison in 1955. It consisted of calcium carbonate, pigment, and acrylic polymer. He called it Liquitex, “a perfect blend of liquid and texture.” It’s thinner than white acrylic paint and dries hard.
Gesso, like paints, comes in two grades—student and professional. As with paints, student grade gesso has less pigment and more filler. While being less expensive, it is not necessarily more economical. You will generally use less of the professional grade because you have better coverage.
Gesso generally is white, black, or clear. However, you can now also find it in varying background colors.
Gesso: Its Purpose
The main purpose of gesso is to coat surfaces in preparation for painting. One of the most common surfaces is canvas. Without gesso, your paint would soak right into a canvas. Gesso provides a smooth yet slightly textured surface, or tooth , that helps your paint stick to your canvas without soaking in.
After you’ve stretched your canvas, it’s important to add several coats of gesso to prepare it for painting. First, you need to make sure that all dust and other particles are removed from your canvas.
Brush on a thin, even layer and let it dry completely. If you’d like a smoother surface, lightly sand your canvas in between coats of gesso. Keep in mind that it’s very important to let the gesso dry completely before sanding it.
Currently, pre-gessoed canvases are easily available at multiple art supply stores. Again if you want a very smooth surface, lightly sand the canvas, remove all dust and brush another thin, even layer of gesso on it. Depending on the smoothness you desire will determine how many times you’ll sand and then reapply more gesso.
Final Thoughts On Gesso
Gesso is really a bridge between the surface you’re using and the paint you want to use. You can gesso almost anything to prepare it for the beautiful painting you’ll create. And remember, the more layers you brush on, the smoother your surface will be.
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