This article is all about the top 10 best gesso for oil painting and acrylic painting reviews. We know, Gesso is committed to functioning as a stable ground upon which to paint. It’s kind of an exclusive layer in between your rapport and actual painting. In short, we may name the layer a primer or aground.
Traditionally, Gesso is white. But now, things have changed. We get coloured gesso, black gesso, super heavy gesso, or basic Gesso with advanced technology. Additionally, gesso is also divided into two grades, student grade and artist Grade.
We researched the market very carefully as we understand how delightfully quirky you can be about your artwork. We also clearly added which gesso is best in which category. So, enjoy your ride with us and pick up the suitable one.
Table of Contents
Top 10 best Gesso Reviews
1.Liquitex G5316 Professional – Best gesso for professionals
This lightweight, non-toxic, and premium acrylic gesso functioned to make painting surfaces for oil and acrylic paint. There is a wide range of surface preparations available such as BASICS Gesso, White Gesso, Clear Gesso, and Super Heavy Gesso. However, we are reviewing the white gesso. It’s for absorbent surfaces like wood, metal, paper, and canvas. It offers accurate surface sizing, absorbency tooth, and excellent coverage. Traditionally, Liquitex Gesso takes just one coat. But, two layers are recommended under oil color.
- Features 16-oz / 473ml bottle of the medium.
- It’s durable and non-cracking.
- It does not yellow over time.
- Lightweight and water-resistant.
- It’s entirely suitable for educational use.
- A variety of colors.
- It’s a bit thick.
Conclusion Ideas:
This classic white sealer Gesso can function with Prismacolor pencils, Koi watercolours, coloured pencils, stickers, acrylic paint, Iridescent medium, art masking fluid, etc. It adds value and quality to your art projects.
2. Prima Marketing 961466 – Best clear gesso
This 8.5-Ounce Prisma marketing art basics gesso functions well as a sealer and primer on most surfaces that include wood, metal, chipboard, plastic, fabric, paper, canvas, and more. The whole deal includes one 8.5oz Jar of clear gesso. Clear Gesso is more flexible than black or white Gesso. Case in point, if you require black or white or any other color, you can add some acrylic paint with it to create your tone.
- It’s water-based but durable and permanent after drying.
- It will blend with acrylic paints or pigments to create an array of customized color grounds.
- It’s nontoxic.
- It doesn’t yellow over time.
- It works impressively at bible art journaling.
- It doesn’t dry rapidly.
Conclusion Ideas:
This transparent Gesso has crystal clear coverage. It’s a lovely product which can provide you high quality to your venture.
3. GRUMBACHER Gesso – Best gesso for oil painting
This extra-thick Gesso is excellent for oil and acrylic painting. It prepares several absorbent substrates like canvas, plaster, concrete, cardboard, and wood for painting with acrylic or oil colours. The process of usage is also clear and easy. At first, stir properly and use it with a brush to a neat and clean surface. After, maybe thinned with water. Most importantly, sand between coats if you want to avoid wicking. Finally, it can be tinted with acrylic colours. However, never blend with or use with turpentine or oils.
- Available in 16oz. And 32 oz.
- It offers an elegant base for mixing acrylic paint.
- It can be functioned to add texture to the canvas.
- Thicker.
- Made in the USA.
- Not appropriate for gilding or egg tempera.
Conclusion Ideas:
GRUMBACHER Gesso is a pretty good product for the artists at an affordable price.
4. Art Alternatives Black Acrylic – Best gesso for wood
This stunning black gesso is perfect for tempera or acrylics-oils. You can use it with tempera or acrylics-oils on various porous surfaces inclosing wood panels, paper, and canvas. What is more, it can also be used as an excellent base for crayons, soft and oil pastels, colored pencil, spray paint, paint markers, and more.
- It offers an adequately rigid yet pliable surface plus adored with a clean satin fin.
- It provides a slight tooth to enhance adhesion.
- It dries quickly.
- Never crack.
- Nice coverage.
- Occasionally, it may require multiple coatings.
Conclusion Ideas:
This affordable Gesso has a thick consistency and very easy to work with. At such a reasonable price, it’s a delight to the customers.
5. Handy Art Little Masters – Best gesso for acrylic painting
This exceptional quality, white Gesso, is excellent for the budding artist. It’s an economic primer that dries to a durable finish. Additionally, it can be applied as a primer or undercoating to the surface before painting to enhance adherence. What is more, it’s reasonably thick and covers finely.
- Certified AP Non-Toxic.
- It’s sandable.
- Very easy to clean. Just use soap and water.
- Made in the USA.
- It does not contain latex, egg, dairy or casein, soy, peanut, gluten, or tree nuts.
- Not very much suitable for highly professional work.
Conclusion Ideas:
This one is a beginner-friendly, which can be used for medium venture projects and student grade works.
6. Winsor & Newton Professional – Best gesso for art journaling
Winsor & Newton Acrylic Clear Gesso is designed for professional use. It’s made from unpigmented clear resin that dries entirely clear. What is more, it can be used to create your gesso primers by adding acrylic colors to the base. However, be noted that to make colored Gesso primers, opaque colors are recommended.
- It offers tooth but no color.
- It does not possess white pigment but still offers absorbency and texture.
- It makes the ideal surface upon which to paint.
- It fits for creating a pastel surface on paper and for alkyd and oil painting.
- It’s pretty easy to use, plus it dries reasonably fast.
- This gesso is a bit thin.
Conclusion Ideas:
This gesso provides you a blend of consistent professional results and elegance—great value for the money.
7. Ranger MDM46424 – Best gesso for bible journaling
This 4oz jar clear gesso is suitable for using to surface where you need the background to display through media. What is more, it provides a tooth for paint to hold and lets you show the underlays.
- Great for sealing layers.
- Best for making slippery surfaces more attainable.
- It’s a Non-toxic. Additionally, it does not contain any acid.
- It works brilliantly on watercolors, acrylic painting, bible journaling, and so on.
- Made in the USA.
- It’s a bit more textured after drying.
Conclusion Ideas:
It’s a good gesso that dries fairly well, easy to put on, easy to clean, and prevents bleeds through your artwork.
8. Handy Art – Best gesso for acrylic painting
Since 1974, Handy art gave us some best-valued art products and kept their reputation intact. ?in this department, they also offered some cherished Gesso that provides some great features and affordability. This white Gesso medium is a brilliant quality student primer that dries to a durable matte finish.
- Available in 16oz. And 32 oz.
- It offers an elegant base for mixing acrylic paint.
- It can be functioned to add texture to the canvas.
- Thicker.
- Made in the USA.
- Not appropriate for gilding or egg tempera.
Conclusion Ideas:
It’s a student grade primer, but the professionals also can give it a try. The quality is vibrant. It’s thick, but not extra thick, covers well, and gives you an excellent service.
9. Golden Acrylic Gesso – Best gesso for watercolor
Golden Acrylic Gesso is flexible, lightfast, permanent, and perfect for applying to a stretched cotton canvas. The gessoes and grounds golden acrylics let the artist create backing with acrylic paint or use oil paints or all types of pastels, charcoal, and watercolors. It’s made in the United States. And the overall product weight is 0.63lbs.
- It’s an all acrylic painting ground for acrylic and oil paints.
- You can use it on a variety of surfaces.
- It defends the supports.
- It provides effective surface adhesion.
- It blends well with other acrylic paints.
- Sometimes it requires several coating.
Conclusion Ideas:
I need to add that it works wonderfully on aluminum or other metallic surfaces (4 coats recommended). So, highly recommended for metallic surfaces. It has other advantages, too, like it’s neither too thin nor thick, a standard consistency, easy to spread on, maximum coverage, and opaque.
10. Art Advantage Acrylic Gesso – Best gesso for professionals
This Acrylic white Gesso is the breeding ground of quality and flexibility. It comes in a variety of colors such as Grey, white, black, and so on. It’s fascinating for priming canvas, hardboard, and plaster. What particularly interesting is that the exceptionally speedy drying time of this Gesso. It dries within a few minutes, which is incredible for an artist. It saves time and makes the venture more workable.
- It’s a non-yellowing. So, rest assured, it won’t yellow over time.
- It’s compatible with oil, acrylic colors, charcoal, and pastels to pencil and crayons.
- No need for thinning.
- Clean up is smooth. I need soap and water.
- The drying time is magical.
- A bit smelly.
Conclusion Ideas:
It’s a great white gesso with a superior finish to enhance your artwork. It possesses a great texture, excellent drying time, and wonderfully consistent results.
Overall Ideas
These are our top 10 best Gesso Reviews. So, understand your requirements and choose wisely. However, if I need to recommend any palette, then I will recommend the first one, Liquitex Gesso. Liquitex brand is a renowned brand for more than 65 years.
In quality and value, no brand can’t be as beautiful as Liquitex. Brilliantly enough, it also provides a variety of gesso, such as BASICS Gesso, White Gesso, Clear Gesso, and Super Heavy Gesso. They are all great in their respective field. However, the white one is particularly fascinating.
It would be a delight; the beginners or students can give it a try as it’s moderately priced. However, another gesso that caught my attention is Art Advantage 8-Ounce Acrylic Gesso. It also swells for the professionals.
For the final student grade, the pick-up could be Handy Art Little Masters Economy Acrylic Gallon, White Gesso, or Handy Art Acrylic Gesso.
The final call is yours. So, whatever decision you make, best luck with that. I hope your adventure will allow us to enjoy some best artworks; if you would like to share anything, comment below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is acrylic gesso used for oil painting?
Yes, you can do that. It makes the canvas more comfortable.
What are the alternatives for gesso?
You can use acrylic paint. But gesso is thicker than acrylic paint.
What are the leverages of using gesso instead of white paint?
1) It offers a better surface. 2) It provides some texture. 3) Saves paint.
Should I paint when the gesso is still wet or when it is dry?
I recommend it on a dry surface. However, you can experiment with both mediums.
What is the difference between gesso and primer?
Gesso is the traditional water-based ground, and the primer is the oil-based ground for painting.
Can I mix gesso with acrylic paint?
Of course, you can. I use it to create effects. First of all, Avail acrylic and gesso for the base. Then when it becomes dry, you can use oil without any complication.
Can I mix gesso with oil?
No, you can’t. It’s a different matter if the manufacturer of the product says they can.
How many layers of gesso should I use?
I believe 2 coats of gesso are fine. However, you need to apply more than 2 coats for spray application.
Can gesso be used as a primer?
Yes, it can. You can use gesso to any wooden supports, for instance: Masonite, maple, MDF, birch, plywood, or other hardboard.
Do you have to let the gesso dry before painting?
Gesso dries very quickly. However, it’s good to let the gesso dry before painting. I do it all the time.
