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AMSTERDAM Modeling Paste 1000 ml -
Schmincke AQUA Coarse Modeling Paste for Watercolor, 100 ml -
Pebeo Setacolor Leather Primer and Degreaser, 110 ml -
Ghiant Gesso H2O Spray Primer 400 ml, Black -
Ghiant Spray Primer Gesso h2o, 400 ml -
Magnetic Base Paint Magnetic Primer, 250 ml -
Pentart Wall Decor Magnesium Powder for Textures 80 g -
KREUL White Primer Spray, 400 ml -
Schmincke AQUA-Grund Coarse Watercolor Ground Medium, 300 ml -
Pentart Lightweight Modeling Paste -
Schmincke AQUA-Grund Fine Watercolor Ground Medium, 250 ml -
Schmincke Transparent Watercolor Ground Medium AQUA-Grund, 250 ml -
Schmincke Pastel Ground Medium 500 ml -
Dekor Paint Gesso Primer for Decorative Paints - 100 ml -
KREUL Solo Goya Crackle Varnish Base Coat 50 ml -
Rosa Fine-Grain Texture Paste 150 ml
Gesso (acrylic primer) is a base coat that prepares canvas, wood, paper, or cardboard for painting. It keeps paint from soaking in, helps it adhere better, and makes it more vibrant. For everyday use, Kompozit White Primer or Solo Goya Gesso Primer is all you need. For a textured surface, use texturing paste.
Gesso and Primer for Canvas, Wood, and Paper
The surface preparation determines how paint behaves: whether it soaks in, how quickly it dries, and how long it lasts. In this category, you’ll find white, black, and colored gesso, primers, and pastes for textured surfaces from Kompozit, KREUL Solo Goya, Schmincke, PENTART, Maimeri, Golden, Rosa, and ARTMiE.
Choosing a Primer
White Gesso, a Versatile Primer
Kompozit White Primer and Solo Goya Gesso Primer are water-based acrylic primers suitable for use under acrylic and oil paints. Use them on unprimed canvas, wood, cardboard, or paper, or to reprime an old painting.
Black and Colored Gesso
A tinted surface saves you from underpainting and helps with working with light. Light and metallic paints stand out on black gesso.
Textured Surfaces
For a textured surface, apply Kompozit Fine-Grain Texturing Paste or Solo Goya Fine Sand Paste. Find all pastes in the effect pastes and gels category.
How to Apply Gesso
- Remove dust from the surface. Lightly sand wood.
- Apply a thin coat of gesso with a wide flat brush, such as one from the Nassau Primer Brush Set.
- Let it dry, then apply a second coat at a right angle to the first. For a smooth surface, lightly sand with sandpaper.
- Let the primer dry completely before painting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gesso and Primer
What’s the difference between gesso and primer?
In everyday use, they mean the same thing: a base coat. Products sold as gesso today are water-based acrylic primers suitable for use under acrylic and oil paints.
Do I need to prime a store-bought canvas?
Most canvases are gesso-primed during manufacturing. An additional coat is worthwhile if you want a smoother, less absorbent surface or a tinted base.
How many coats of gesso should I apply?
Usually, apply two to three thin coats to canvas and one to two to wood and paper. Several thin coats are better than one thick coat.
Can I cover an old painting with gesso?
Yes, you can cover an acrylic painting with one or two coats of white gesso. If it has a thick texture, sand it down first.
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