jwebster  | 24 Apr 2014 11:33 a.m. PST |
After reading about gesso as an undercoat I decided to give it a go. Mixed in a tiny amount of blue and painted it on. No coverage. Painted it on thicker – still nothing. I looked at the bottle. I bought clear (transparent) instead of white. Last time I made this mistake (anyone want a can of glossy grey primer ?) I blamed small print and lack of glasses. This time – large print – no excuses. So what creative things can I do with an opened 8oz bottle of clear gesso ? Thanks John |
| Cold Steel | 24 Apr 2014 11:39 a.m. PST |
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| PygmaelionAgain | 24 Apr 2014 11:43 a.m. PST |
How would it work as a water effect with a coat of gloss finish on top? |
| TNE2300 | 24 Apr 2014 12:15 p.m. PST |
I keep a 'business card magnifier' in my wallet for just this reason
some seem to be ok with the clear gesso as primer
TMP link
maybe you can mix say 50/50 with the black or grey gesso to strech |
| GreatScot72 | 24 Apr 2014 1:29 p.m. PST |
Careful! Clear gesso cures with a very grainy finish compared to other gessos. I had the very same thing happen-thought I was buying white and wound up with a bottle of clear. I use it to seal terrain project and bases. Even for some vehicles it is not bad. I never use it on miniatures with fine detail, though. |
| CPBelt | 24 Apr 2014 1:42 p.m. PST |
BTW just blame it on "old age". That excuse works like a charm for me.  |
| CeruLucifus | 24 Apr 2014 8:15 p.m. PST |
If it's Liquitex you can mix in 1/4 Soft Body color and mix up gesso in that color. I found it a little streaky but that may have been my choice of paint to mix in. |
| Dexter Ward | 25 Apr 2014 2:55 a.m. PST |
Just mix it with a good splodge of tube artist's acrylic paint. It works fine.
But as Darmok says, the clear gesso has quite a bit more 'tooth' than the white stuff. You may find it better for scenery than figures. |
| BrianW | 25 Apr 2014 7:59 a.m. PST |
PygmaelionAgain,
I use it as a topcoat on all my sailing ship bases, and of top of 'store-bought' streams and the like. It works quite well.
BWW |
| ced1106 | 25 Apr 2014 2:11 p.m. PST |
I've used clear gesso as "touch up" primer on miniatures. No glopping on, just a thin coat in a small area. I only paint to tabletop, so haven't noticed any problems. I think I've experienced the rough toothiness others have mentioned when using it as a general brush on primer. |
| jwebster | 27 Apr 2014 3:23 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I was expecting something ruder. @PygmaelionAgain
I tried it as a water feature, but it didn't dry completely clear and the thick layer showed shrinkage (that's what a gesso should do I guess) so I am going to vote no on water features @TNE2300
The advice about the business card magnifier is great – will hunt for one. A great example of how TMP provides great life advice @Darmok
Using it to seal terrain and bases – looks like the best way to go John |
