How to Prime and Sand your Canvas with Gesso 🎨

Here's how I prime and prepare my canvas for painting! First, I mix together gesso, a bit of water, and a liquid acrylic for a tone. I apply it to my canvas with a foam brush, then sand it down with a fine grit sandpaper (usually 320 grit). I repeat this process 2-3x for a silky smooth canvas that allows me to paint pieces in realism.

[@CatherineMellon]

Oh that color!! 😮😮😊😊

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I just heard it's being discontinued! I'd probably try to mix something comparable with yellow ochre and burnt sienna

[@CatherineMellon]

Nnoooo!!! Oh I hope they don't stop making it!

[@Introvertinsider]

Thank you I’m looking for this 😇

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Yay! I'm glad you found it!

[@fantasyangel3421]

Do repeat the process of priming and sanding alternating every time? Or its just after first layer of priming you sand and apply 2 -3 layers of prime?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

I do the sanding each time, it makes it so smooth!

[@mernaelsayegh]

This so great 😊 can you tell me how do you tell if the canvas is already primed or not?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

The canvas should be labelled as pre-primed, but if it's not, if it's blindingly white than it usually has a layer of gesso on it. Most pre-stretched canvases are already primed.

[@mernaelsayegh]

@@MarianneVanderDussen Ahh I buy canvas locally made and they don't have a label, but it looks and rough textured similar to a wall, so would that be primed or not? 🤔

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Not sure without actually being able to see it, but if you're not certain, then I'd just prime it anyway! It wouldn't hurt 😊@@mernaelsayegh

[@latasingh4522]

Which type of paper is this?

[@MarianneVanderDussen]

Hi! So if you're referring to one of my other shorts, I use cold press paper from Strathmore for my landscape sketchbook and hot press paper from Stillman and Birn for my other sketchbooks!