Professional Mediums

Professional Gesso

A classic titanium white acrylic ground to prepare your surface and add a high level of tooth.

Additive Size: 946ml
$47.39 USD In stock, ready to ship
Key Features
  • Primes surfaces and adds a high level of tooth for maximum color adhesion and stability
  • Gives a matte white, opaque finish which provides a professional standard, archival base to help maintain the longevity of your work
  • Stiffens your canvases and creates the optimum absorbency for paint application
  • Establishes a good surface for preliminary charcoal or pencil drawings
  • Always use a quality artist's gesso if you want a lasting, archival base - a low-cost ground will flake and separate from your support, taking your work with it. Under the right conditions, a professional gesso will last generations
How to Use
  • Use undiluted or thin with up to 25% water - when thinning more than 25%, use an equal mixture of water and Liquitex Matte Medium
  • Sand hard or shiny surfaces first, apply a thin coat to support with a wide, flat brush and leave to dry for at least 24 hours before starting to paint
  • To create a smoother base, sand the surface and reapply gesso
  • If using as a base for oils, apply 2-4 coats and sand between applications
  • Add acrylic color for a custom tint - Soft Body Acrylic is the optimum consistency
See more...
AP Seal Information icon
All our paints are intermixable and water-based, with archival results. Tested and certified at Duke University by the ACMI. Please note, this product is AP certified, even if the AP seal is not on the packaging.

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MEET LIQUTEX PROFESSIONAL GESSOES

FOR MORE STRUCTURE. STRENGTH. CHARACTER.

Give your work the brilliant base it deserves – one that’ll help colors pop and textures come alive. With Professional Gessoes, you can prime and add tooth to your surfaces so they’re ready for paint application. Gessoes also help you achieve the perfect absorbency, texture and archival ground for a range of substrates. Choose between five specialized formulas: clear, white, gray and black if you’re selecting by color, while Super Heavy Gesso gives texture and acts as a strong foundation for structural work.

TIPS & TECHNIQUES

Useful guides for working with Gessoes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Other creatives have asked us...

How do I make a colored gesso?

We would recommend you selecting your green Soft Body or Heavy Body color and mixing a little into our Professional Gesso until you achieve the desired tint.

If acrylic goes onto most surfaces why do I need a gesso?

While acrylics adhere to most surfaces, gesso prepares surfaces for a long-term bond, improving absorbency and tooth for paint.

Do you make sheer tinted grounds?

We only make an uncolored Clear Gesso but you can tint it with a transparent color from our Acrylic Ink or Soft Body ranges.

What can I use to create a hard surface for a graphite drawing?

To create a hard surface for graphite drawings, sketch directly on our Professional Gessoes or use Ceramic Stucco for an Italian fresco-style effect.

What's the best way to prime a canvas for painting?

Size with one layer of Matte Medium and coat with Liquitex gesso (white, gray, black, clear, or super heavy gesso) for priming.