What's Gesso?

[ElectricEpidemic]

I love your videos!! You inspired me so much!!

[comfortableshoesstud]

@ElectricEpidemic *Blush* :)

[StudioMallory]

Very informative! Thanks so much!

[billholb1974]

Very helpful thank you!

[AussieGuy53]

Thanks for the input. I live in OZ (land of STICKERSHOCK)!

I'll get some gesso to see the difference.

I buy Titanium white for $25!

Nothin' cheap here.

Thanks, Mario

[AussieGuy53]

I'm told white ceiling paint is the same as gesso, what do you say?

Celing paint is cheaper to buy, is it as good?

[comfortableshoesstud]

@AussieGuy53 It's not the same but can work if you are in a pinch. Any sort of base coat white latex paint will work. Ceiling paint is going to be a LOT thinner than gesso. It's also designed to level out- if you want brush strokes to show in your gesso, you won't get that with ceiling paint. If it were me, I'd spend the money of a cheap tub of gesso rather than use a thinner paint. YMMV

[AussieGuy53]

@comfortableshoesstud

Thanksfor the input. Unfortunately I live in OZ (land of STCKER SHOCK)!

EG. One tube of T.White = $22+ lol (170ml)

Thanks

Mario

[comfortableshoesstud]

@AussieGuy53 Search on here for Homemade gesso recipe, you can mix plaster of paris/gypsum/other chalky type of powers to make something that is more like gesso than straight up ceiling paint. Gesso is usually pretty thick- like pudding and you'll want that consistancy.

[purplecinn]

@AussieGuy53 Mont marte Gesso is 500ml for around $9-$10 for 500ml

[purplecinn]

@purplecinn I'm from oz btw lol

[michaelatkinsonhere]

Thanks. Thats good to know.

[comfortableshoesstud]

@michaelatkinsonhere No problem!

[MzHellfyre]

very helpful, thanks. i just got some Liquitex Gesso and found that it is super super thick, not something i can use a brush to paint it on. is it supposed to be that way? if so, how do i thin it so that i can brush it onto my surface?

[comfortableshoesstud]

@MzHellfyre Try a cheap stiff Chinese bristle brush. IF that doesn't work try thinning the gesso with water. Make sure you do that in a separate container. Mix small amounts at a time and use purified/distilled/bottled water if you decide to mix a large batch, as tap water can add impurities that can mold.

(I look at thick gesso as a concentrate. But generally I like mine so it's the consistency of pudding.)

[MissHannah73]

Thank you for sharing! I've only used ink and pensil in my art and have no clue about different mediums, for which now I'm branching into -- Thank you!

[comfortableshoesstud]

@MissHannah73 Awesome! Hope you enjoy all the new stuff you'll be using!

[SCUBONZIES]

THANX HON

[comfortableshoesstud]

@SCUBONZIES :)

[jamurbanek]

is there a major reason why you should use gesso instead of just plain white acrylic paint?

[comfortableshoesstud]

@jamurbanek Gesso has more tooth than plain acrylic, it's made to accept additional layers of paint.

[sagaslover]

Your words are so clear.

[lievekleinepiranha]

Thanks for the information! I just bought gesso for the first time :).

[enirsha]

I think I love you too.. ;)waiting for the moment you have time for new vids.

[comfortableshoesstud]

@enirsha :)

[Gracie1897]

Thanks :D what type should I get? There a few different ones to choose from and I'm only a beginner so I don't want to buy something that won't work for what I need it to do; covering the page as a starter and layering :)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Gracie1897 I like liquitex brand

[Gracie1897]

Where can I order some gesso online? I've seen it used in multiple videos and I'd like to try it myself but I don't know where to find it.

Love your videos by the way :)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Gracie1897 you can order it from any on line art supply retailer like blick, cheap joes, jerry's, or even amazon.

[arespinoza85]

thanx a lot. cool



[alliegeorge87]

I think I love you.

hope that's okay:)

Also, informational video- thanks for posting!

[comfortableshoesstud]

@alliegeorge87 :) love is good

[orangemonkeyee]

so basically I can start using big carboard boxes and not have to buy an expensive canvas, sweet!

[Iammuhtriangle]

@comfortableshoesstud thanks!

[comfortableshoesstud]

@PlanetNeptuneLover Keep making art!

[Iammuhtriangle]

So I am going to do a painting on my wall but the wall has primer on it and is too smooth. Is there a possibility that if I use gesso it will flake off? A response would be appreciated :)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Iammuhtriangle gesso should stick. Is the primer latex or oil. If it's latex it'll stick no problem, you may want to give it a gentle sanding for good adhesion. gesso is not likely to flake.

[Mari14Bella]

thanks so much !

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Mari14Bella :)

[mindspark1]

I like your teaching style. Thanks so much.

Kate

[comfortableshoesstud]

@mindspark1 Thanks!

[Cybelemoon]

It is definitely good to see you again, its been a long while! Hope all is going well for you! :D Your Gesso is much much thicker than mine... I need better Gesso! :D

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Cybelemoon It's liquatex basics, very inexpensive. With gesso, thick is good!

[Cybelemoon]

@comfortableshoesstud - The last gesso I bought was horrible. Runny and lumpy and the odor is horid. Now as it sits in jars (because I thought I was getting a deal by buying a large bucket. It is separating badly. The gesso I had before that grew mold! I'm going to spend more next time.... and this stuff... I am sorry to say, will end up getting wasted.

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Cybelemoon gesso will grow mold, its one of the reason I buy the jugs and squirt containers, so I can't dip into the tub and contaminate the whole thing. For the separated stuff you can mix it together. Gesso does have a particular smell, and it's not always nice, but when it's bad, it smells like rotten eggs. Utrect makes a nice gesso too, the medium body is what we used in school and it comes in smaller pint/quart sizes as well as gallon buckets.

[Twistedpearlyshell]

Yay!!! Finally a new video from you! FINALLY!!!

:)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@Twistedpearlyshell and 2 count them 2 in one weekend!!!! :D

[dolligrl2000]

Thank you so much for your videos...I am learning so much and you convey the info very clearly. 

[princesspanda01]

impasto, sorry NOT impesto..

it looks really nice, id love to learn how to use impasto

comment back? :)

[princesspanda01]

can you do a tutorial how to use impesto?

if im aware, i never used impesto, but its what u use with paint to give it this really nice bumpy effect when dried..its like embossing i think..:)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@princesspanda01 impasto can be done with a variety of mediums or heavy bodied paints. Youc an't doit with craft paints or liquid/soft bodied paints. You can add heavy bodied gel medium to pain to get the impasto effect. You also need to use the right brushes- stiff bristle brushes will allow you to leave brush strokes in the heavy bodies paints. Don't use soft brushes for impasto work- they can't move the thick paint the way you need to.

[cheerbear7]

ok so I may be slow, or it could be I was watching an old video and catching up since I just found you BUT I love your new..or al beit old hair cut haha :) and you I so enjoy you so thanks :))) and thank you for ever more info about gesso especially since I am very new to it :D ALthough I wish someone would have told me it smells so funny or at least the one I bought does

[comfortableshoesstud]

@cheerbear7 this is my latest video. Thanks, yes, the haircut is new. I considered mentioning the smell of it in the video but edited it out. It DOES have a very particular smell. Also be aware that it can grow mold. I always get jugs to force myself to decant it into another container rather than dip my brush directly into the container.

[EvelineUK]

I'm so jealous of that huge tub of thick gesso. The gesso I've got is a lot smaller tub, and the gesso itself is way more watery. Need to hunt for some better gesso.

OH, and can I just say.. LOVE the hair!

[comfortableshoesstud]

@EvelineUK I've bought a lot of different brands of gesso. Utrect and Liquatex are the 2 best I've used, the rest, either don't cover or are just acrylic paint. Gesso is SUPPOSED to have marble dust in it as part of it's pigmentation and it also gives a lot of tooth to the paint.

[vmtee]

Great vid! You did exactly what you told me! hahaha! Thanks for the info it really helps. Taffy

[afasimpaur]

Thanks for the vid. I'm apparently obsessed with gesso and making quite an impression on my 5 year old. Today she complained that her paint had bled through the paper and we needed to gesso the back before she could use it.

I'm currently experimenting with clear gesso over acrylic backgrounds before moving on to additional steps. With the humidity in Ohio the acrylics just seem to want to stick no matter what I do.

[comfortableshoesstud]

@afasimpaur try to buff them with some wax. I use a block of 50 bee's wax and 50 parafin. I rub it over the top of my more sticky pages and then warm with a heat gun and buff the page with a soft cloth. the wax sticks a touch  but not the paint.

[afasimpaur]

@comfortableshoesstud In most cases, I seem to run into problems when I have created a background with acrylics in anticipation of future work. I like the clear gesso because it serves to protect the background from sticking to itself and gives me a perfectly primed surface for additional work.

[comfortableshoesstud]

@afasimpaur that makes sense

[ikerrilove]

Thans for the video Less If I'm using it to cover glossy covered cardboard, I sand it a touch, it helps the gesso grip and not come off if I'm going to use something like a watercolor crayon or something I'm going to press down on. I tried not sanding the other day and I pressed to hard and the gesso came right off, thought I'd mention that :)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@ikerrilove that is a fantastic point! You do need to get eh gloss off the page for it to adhere well.

[ikerrilove]

@comfortableshoesstud I forgot to mention, I love the idea of cutting the paint brush, I have a few of those hanging around so I'm going to give that a try :)

[comfortableshoesstud]

@ikerrilove The bristles when long were far too soft, short I'm able to really scrub the gesso into the paper, board or canvas. Plus it gives me a way better texture.

[TopazPearleGirl]

Thanks for the info Less.

[canadianscrappergirl]

Great video especially for us newbies to art journalling! Hope you do more of these types of videos! I saw someone buying that huge bottle of gesso yesterday at Michaels I was like wow that would last me a while! TFS! hugs,Kathy

[comfortableshoesstud]

@canadianscrappergirl HA! I've gone through an entire pint since I started my recent journal/scrapbook

[JournalArtista]

I just love you. Thanks so much again for sharing all your knowledge and inspiration!

Much Love

[comfortableshoesstud]

@JournalArtista :P