teabag painting
i love art supplies. you could say i collect them
just to experiment with them. sometimes it takes a
while for me to even get around to trying a product.
that's the case with clear gesso. now i have it on
hand always.
what is gesso?
gesso comes in white, black, clear and even colors. it is used
as a primer and sealer and make an even ground for
acrylic or oil paint. clear gesso dries clear to translucent
depending on the thickness of the application. i apply with
a sponge brush or inexpensive bristle brush.
how do i use it?
as a painter and mixed media artist, i love layering
color on color, collage on paint, paint over collage,
paint over a sketch ... you get the picture. you might
even do the same.
clean up
soap and water. important to wash immediately after
using or your brush will be a solid block of bristles. especially
check the bristles at the base of the brush. i squeeze the
bristles with my fingers. if it feels sticky, i wash again.
where to use clear gesso
1
use clear gesso between layers or if you are not sure
about the next step. it protects the bottom layer and
gives you the option to remove the last layer.
2
apply a layer of clear gesso on paper, canvas, wood
before using pastels. clear gesso leaves a tooth which
is a nice surface for pastels. and oil pastels. this grit or tooth
is what i did not like about it when i first tried it. i was used to
smooth white gesso and had not tried pastels at the time. now i love it.
3
brush it on an altered book. you can then paint over it and
wipe off paint to retain the text below.
4
as with any product, experiment, break the rules,
let yourself play!
