Is it important to use gesso before i start painting onto canvas?

Answer 1

It's not required, but it can help.. any more info needed can be found here :
http://www.artistsjournals.com/instruction/gesso.htm

hope this helps x

Answer 2

It depends on what kind of painter you are, and what kind of painting you want to achieve. No gesso will mean your canvas is mega absorbent - good if you want a that Francis Bacon smugdged effect, or if your going to layer your paint up a lot, bad for colour blending and simply getting your paint to go a long way. With gesso, your paint will go much further, take longer to dry, and be easier to blend. If you're using oils, using liquin or linseed oil with it will make the paint sink into a un-primed canvas much more, same goes for watering down acrylics. If you're using watercolors, i would use gesso beforehand at all, as it's kinda essential you have the absorbtion.

If you're not sure about all this, I'd go for two thin layers of gesso. It's enough to make the paint flow, but still retains some sink on the canvas, which is, after all, the real beauty of painting on canvas.

Answer 3

Yes, it is quite important.

For one, if you use oil paint, the oils will eventually eat through the canvas unless you protect it with gesso first.

For both oil and acrylic, gesso will prevent the canvas from absorbing too much of the paint. That way the paint stays on the surface where it belongs rather than being soak up into the fabric.

Also, gesso can create a nice smooth surface for you to paint on. That way you won't have to do as many layers of paint to hide the texture of the canvas underneath.

Happy painting!

Answer 4

it pre-pends on the type of paint and how tight you want the canvas.
id advise you prime the canvas is you are using oils.
gesso will also tighten the canvas more that it springs like a drum and can hide poorly stretched canvas and hide rides and bumps and can make the canvas look More professional looking. plus it is easier to paint on a nice tight surface.

if it cost that is the issue here are 2 alternatives.

1. half a cup of white pigment, half a cup of pva and full cup water. ( will give you a springy surface and helps oil paints dry faster) you need at lest 2 coats or 3-4 and sand down to have a beautiful smooth surface.

2 p.v.a and emulsion it needs to be at least 2 layer thick painting in different directions for each layer. 3-4 and sand down if you want baby smooth surface.

hope this helps.

Answer 5

it is very helpful because the canvas will be easier to draw on and paint. The best way to do it is to put at least two coats, and then sand it with sand paper so it will be really nice and smooth, i always use gesso on everything, and trust me it takes time but it will be better

Answer 6

it depends on the look u want i usually dont a but i like a thick coat of paint. if u paint light and thin gesso would be important

Answer 7

It depends on the finish you want to achieve. Lots of artists paint 'alla prima' (without primer) But this technique generally suits heavily textured approaches to painting.

Answer 8

If you intend creating a masterpiece, then yes.
If you have money to throw away then no.