Gesso can be tinted white or, more commonly, clear. There are oil and acrylic gessos, with the latter being the more popular choice.
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.
I’ve provided links below to the relevant products so that you can easily find them on Blick Art Materials, my favorite online art supplier. I’m a member of Blick’s affiliate program, which means if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I’ll receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Your purchase helps support this site and keeps it free of ads. Click here for more info.
Can You Use White Acrylic Instead of Gesso?
While practice and technique are crucial parts of painting, having the appropriate materials is also important to make sure your art pieces are as high quality as possible. You may need a particular tool, paint color, or other materials and are considering swapping out one thing for another.
You cannot use white acrylic instead of gesso. White acrylic paint will not prime paper or a canvas the same way gesso will. You risk having the paint seep through the canvas, and your painting will also not look as good as with a primed surface. You will also end up using more paint than necessary.
In this article, I will answer Can You Use White Acrylic Instead of Gesso? (no), the uses for gesso, and alternative ways you can use white acrylics in your work.
- 1 Why You Can’t Use White Acrylic Instead of Gesso
- 1.1 What Is White Acrylic?
- 1.2 What Is Gesso?
Why You Can’t Use White Acrylic Instead of Gesso
Acrylic paint and gesso have specific uses. Both are helpful tools for artists but should not be used as replacements for one another as they don’t serve the same purpose.
White acrylic will typically have a thicker consistency than gesso. Gesso is lighter and more fluid, so it doesn’t create as thick a layer on the canvas, which makes it better as a base coat.
Moreover, acrylic paint dries down smoother than gesso, so it doesn’t offer as much ‘tooth’ or roughness to the canvas as gesso does. Gesso makes the canvas rougher, so it can hold onto the paint as it is applied.
Let’s explore the properties of acrylic paint and gesso to understand why you can’t use white acrylic instead of gesso.
What Is White Acrylic?
Acrylic paints consist of three basic components: water, pigment, and an acrylic binder. Acrylics are a popular and easily accessible painting medium because they are quick-drying and easy to wash off. They are also less expensive than oil paints, another popular medium.
There is not just one shade of white. White paints have a wide range of undertones to match different palettes—from warm yellows and reds, cool blues and greens, or neutral beige and grays.
One of the most popular shades of white paint is Titanium White, made with titanium dioxide. This shade is often used as a base coat and helps other colors stand out.
Another commonly used shade of white is Zinc White, made with zinc oxide. It is not as opaque as Titanium White and also dries slower.
What Is Gesso?
Less experienced artists and hobbyists may not be very familiar with gesso. Gesso is a primer for painting surfaces.
It is applied to whatever the paint will be used on – including canvas, wood, and paper – to create a protective seal between the painting’s surface and the paint itself. Since acrylics are water-based, there is the risk that they will bleed and spread across canvas and paper.
You may also hear gesso referred to as “ground,” which is the surface that the paint sits on. Not all ground is gesso, but gesso often achieves the same goal as ground. Different brush stroke methods can make the paper or canvas rougher and create more texture.
Gesso can be tinted white or, more commonly, clear. There are oil and acrylic gessos, with the latter being the more popular choice.
What Are Alternatives To Gesso?
Since white acrylic is not a good substitute for gesso, you’re probably wondering what you can use if gesso isn’t readily available.
There are gel mediums that you can use to prime canvases. Matte gels, for example, are thick and paste-like, which creates a slightly rough surface that helps the paint adhere to the surface of the canvas. These gels can range from medium to ultra matte, depending on the effect you want to create on your canvas.
The traditional binder used in gesso is glue or gelatin derived from animal skins, such as rabbits. If you are vegan or otherwise looking for a cruelty-free option, the Eco Gesso Kit by Natural Earth Paint is available on Amazon. This gesso is not only vegan; it is also free of preservatives and formaldehyde, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
- The world’s only non-toxic, eco-friendly and vegan gesso for artists. Our naturally non-toxic.
- Free of Ammonia, formaldehyde, preservatives and petroleum-based ingredients.
- Includes: Limestone Powder & Methyl Cellulose Glue (MC 2000 S Methylcellulose): a natural.
