Home Forums Explore Media Acrylics Acrylic gesso, tried multiple coats but surface is like plastic, not plaster

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #1527115
    gwyneplaine
    Default

        I’ve been having difficulty getting good results with Liquitex professional acrylic gesso.

        I have tried applying three coats to canvas board, but the surface ends up feeling like smooth plastic.

        It doesn’t have the chalky, dry, absorbent feeling I expect from a gessoed surface.

        It’s as if the gesso has no chalk in it at all.

        I have tried shaking the bottle well, using a brush or a smooth rubber liquitex tool.

        The results are always worse than using a regular pre-gessoed canvas board from Winsor Newton or Arteza. Those pre-gessoed boards feel chalky like I’d expect, without needing to gesso at all.

        Has anyone else experienced this? I know I should probably throw out that gesso but I’m really curious if I’m doing something obviously wrong?

        #1527138
        Dcam
        Default

            I like a little marble dust in my mix. Blick and Fredrix make it.

            Can get Fredrix on amazon.

             

            #1527147

            Have you tried lightly sanding too? That should give it some key.

            Cheers, Maureen


            Forum projects: Plant Parade projects in the Florals/Botanicals forum , WDE in the All Media Art Events , Different Strokes in Acrylics forum .

            #1527210
            gwyneplaine
            Default

                Thanks Maureen, I’ll give that a try. I’ve only ever heard of sanding gesso being used to make the surface flatter (which is not my intent). But it totally makes sense that it could help with adhesion. That’s what I’d do if I was painting furniture or something.

                Thank for the suggestion Dcam. It’s my understanding that gesso already contains chalk and that marble dust is a type of chalk. I suppose it’s possible that Liquitex Professional Gesso doesn’t have a high enough proportion, but it’s not as if it’s an expensive ingredient? The result certainly feels like it doesn’t have enough chalk in it, maybe I should just go with a different brand.

                 

                 

                #1527564
                Keith2
                Default

                    In the past I’ve added white Polyfilla powder to gesso and it does give it more texture.

                    https://www.homebase.co.uk/polycell-multipurpose-interior-polyfilla-450g/12804898.html

                     

                  Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
                  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.