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Wide range of gesso prices
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Message
Posted
Hi, quick question, I've come to the end of my first pot of gesso, and before buying a new pot I wondered what the difference is in the various makes. I've been using W&N Galeria White Gesso Medium and it seems fine and reasonably priced, but is it worth spending more? Why the big price range? To prime my MDF boards I use three coats of it. Sometimes I mix in a bit of extra whiting in the last coat to give it a nice tooth.
Posted
I've used Daler Rowney's Cryla acrylic gesso for many years now - and while I've not used the Galeria product, I'd have complete confidence in doing so.
There are more expensive ones - the Golden range struck me as being a bit on the steep side, as I remember (and I may mis-remember) - but I doubt there's any advantage to using very expensive products.
The exception would be, strictly for oil painting only, if you were able to find a lead-based primer - lead is now extremely expensive, and hedged in by all sorts of bureaucratic regulations. But I don't even know where you could find a lead primer now - although I haven't looked, because I don't prepare canvas the old fashioned way with rabbit-skin glue sizing and lead white priming.
The only thing I wouldn't use ever - although I know people do - is domestic acrylic white, which in my firm opinion should be reserved for painting your front door and kitchen shelves.
Posted
I would recommend making your own! It's so much cheaper, and you can make a big batch which will last for a long time.
There are many recipes for gesso online but one which I recommend would be
1 cup of white acrylic paint
1 cup of white chalk/marble dust
Warm water.
Mix up in a bowl to the consistency you require and can be stored for years!!
Posted
Well yes, but - if you're using acrylic paint (and I presume you mean artists' quality acrylic paint, because I should have a problem with the recipe if you don't) how is this any cheaper than buying ready-made gesso in pots?
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