How to gesso your canvases

I gesso my pre-gessoed canvases. Yes, you heard that right! I’m usually buying inexpensive canvases, which come gessoed, but I find adding a couple extra layers of gesso helps make the painting experience much easier. 

Often, if I just use the panels as-is, I struggle to ensure all the texture in a canvas is filled in. I also feel acrylic paint goes on more smoothly and predictably, allowing me to paint with more confidence. It can also be frustrating once you finish a piece and you can see the texture of the canvas – adding extra layers of gesso can help you avoid this issue. 

You definitely don’t need to add extra gesso, but I find it really helpful for my artwork. 

I generally gesso several canvases or panels at once so they’re dried and ready when I want to paint on them. 

Gesso is essentially a primer for your painting. It prepares the surface and gives your surface a “tooth,” which helps your paint adhere to your canvas, or whatever you’re painting on. 

Watch me show how to gesso your canvases on my YouTube channel.

Supplies

Getting yourself set-up to gesso just takes a handful of supplies. 

• Gesso. I’m using Golden gesso for this demo. 
• A hard sided scraper. I’m using Princeton Catalyst rubber brush, but you could use an old credit card. 
• A soft paintbrush. Wider is handy, but not necessary.
• Something to set your canvases onto for painting and drying. I use a flat metal grid panel and a canvas drop cloth.

How to gesso

1. Apply some gesso to the canvas surface, then use your scrape to apply it over the entire canvas. It should fill in the texture in the canvas surface somewhat, although not necessarily fully. Remember to apply to the side of panels as well. 
2. Use your soft brush to remove any ridges.
3. Allow it to dry to touch. 
4. Repeat once or twice. A second coat will ensure you’ve managed to fully cover the surface, and helps fill in the texture of the canvas as well. 

It’s as easy as that! I like to gesso several at a time so they’re ready to go when it’s time to paint.

Get your own

Pick up supplies to gesso your canvases at your local art supply store or on Amazon:

US

• Gesso
• Soft brush
• Princeton Catalyst

Canada

• Gesso
• Soft brush
• Princeton Catalyst tool