| krieghund | 04 Feb 2010 7:54 a.m. PST |
The title says it all really. I've been using Gesso on my 25mm+ mins for some time now,but I now have some 15mm to paint for the first time in years. Question: Will Gesso work as a primer for these or is it too thick ?. Thanks in advance for any replies. |
| belasirius | 04 Feb 2010 8:02 a.m. PST |
It will work fine. I use it on 6mm and have had no problems with it being to thick. |
| M1Fanboy | 04 Feb 2010 8:06 a.m. PST |
I use it on everything…it shrinks as it dries so it conforms well to the detail. No problems for me whatsoever. Heck, I didn't know what I did without it! |
| GR C17 | 04 Feb 2010 8:10 a.m. PST |
I've used it on the Rebel Mini's Earth Force Marines and it works great. Personaly I try to keep it thin as I like the result, but as M1 noted it shrinks. |
aecurtis  | 04 Feb 2010 8:20 a.m. PST |
I use Liquitex black or gray gesso on all my 15mm figures, and have for quite a few years now. Use it at full strength; don't dilute. I use a pretty stiff brush, so I can "scrub" a bit into low spots, and I keep the brush very wet. Let it dry, and go back and inspect. you may have to hit a few holes and crevices again. Allen |
| TimHerr | 04 Feb 2010 8:21 a.m. PST |
I've tried using it on both 28mm and 15mm and it's ok, but the resulting surface was "grainy." There was is a definite texture imparted by the gesso. Doesn't matter if I tint the clear gesso with craft paint or ink, the graininess is still there. Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? Thanks. Tim |
| GreatScot72 | 04 Feb 2010 8:34 a.m. PST |
Tim, it sounds like you have an old (or low end) batch to me. I have only had that problem with a bottle that was old and a bit dried out. It was a large bottle of the cheapest variety at Walmart, to boot. Generally, my gesso always dries with an extraordinarily smooth surface. I would strongly recommend trying another bottle. |
| Ivan DBA | 04 Feb 2010 9:38 a.m. PST |
I agree with everything that Allen said. |
| Andrew May1 | 04 Feb 2010 2:58 p.m. PST |
Gesso is the best primer I've ever used! Go for it! |
| Farstar | 04 Feb 2010 3:13 p.m. PST |
Cheap gesso is grainy. Liquitex black is not. |
| infojunky | 04 Feb 2010 3:27 p.m. PST |
I have been using Poly-s Primer on 15mm, it is about the best I have discovered yet. I was using LiquidTex acrylic Gesso and then I switched to a Golden clear gesso, both were coming out grainy. |
| skinkmasterreturns | 04 Feb 2010 4:08 p.m. PST |
I have used Ceramcoat white gesso on thousands of 15' and never had any problems. After they dry I use a fairly thin layer of dark burnt umber,a very dark brown, as an undercoat. |
| vtsaogames | 04 Feb 2010 5:58 p.m. PST |
Liquitex black does the trick. |
| abelp01 | 04 Feb 2010 6:01 p.m. PST |
Liquitex all the way and a big Thanks to CPBelt for getting me to try it! It's a great option to spray priming. |
| TimHerr | 05 Feb 2010 8:51 a.m. PST |
I'm using Liquitex Clear. Didn't seem dried out, but you never know. Ok, time to wait for warm weather to return to the spray primers. Thanks for the thoughts, guys! Tim |
| Serenity | 05 Feb 2010 10:54 a.m. PST |
Liquitex clear gesso has added texture, making it rougher than standard colored gessos. I think they add the texture so it will work better as a ground for pastel/charcoal drawing. I bought it, thinking I could tint it to any color, then found out it was too rough for my tastes. For a clear brush-on primer, I use Liquitex matte medium. It has enough tooth for acrylic paint to stick to it well, but doesn't have the added texture of the clear gesso. |
| CeruLucifus | 05 Feb 2010 11:09 a.m. PST |
I have the impression Liquitex Clear Gesso has a coarser grain than their Gesso (i.e., White) and Colored Gesso (Gray and Black). If you check the descriptions, the other gessos say "premium acrylic gesso used to prepare painting surfaces for acrylic and oil paint" whereas Clear Gesso is a little different: "excellent ground" (not premium ground) "for acrylic and oil paint" but also "Ideal high tooth for pastel, oil pastel, graphite, and charcoal". Liquitex Gesso: link
Liquitex Colored Gesso: link
Liquitex Clear Gesso: link I've been using Clear Gesso for some time mixed with Raw Umber for a brown primer/basecoat on 28mm, and you can definitely feel the roughness of the tooth. I like that and it has been a fine primer, but maybe I wouldn't like it so much on a smaller scale. I've just gotten the other gessos to try, but haven't compared the surfaces yet. |
| Greystreak | 19 May 2010 1:48 p.m. PST |
I've been priming with Liquitex Black Gesso for several years now, and have settled on a mix of 50% Black Gesso, 40% Liquitex Acrylic Matte Medium, and 10% water. (Pour into an old glass jam jar, with re-sealable lid, and shake like heck.) The 15mm figures in the following photo slideshow suffered no loss of detail when primed this way, but you can judge for yourself: link |
