9x12 oil on wood |
Recently I decided to try Gamblin's Traditional Gesso. I read that is was made with gypsum, rabbit skin glue, marble dust, titanium dioxide and water, it claimed to make a luminous surface. Let me tell you, IT DOES! I love it. The study above was done on a birch, coated in 4 thin layers. You can't tell by this photo but the sky glows. (I will try to retake the photo tomorrow.) This gesso dries much more slowly but is worth the wait. One thing to remember you must use it on a rigid surface, not stretched canvas or linen.
Maybe someday I will cook up my own on the stove like I learned to do long ago at school. Right now I don't see that in my future and with this stuff I don't feel I have to!
Does anyone else have a favorite gesso they would care to share?