"Do You Use Gesso?" Topic

Here's from Wikipedia:

"Modern "acrylic gesso" is a widely used ground[5] that is a combination of calcium carbonate with an acrylic polymer, medium latex, a pigment and other chemicals that ensure flexibility, and increase archival life. It is technically not gesso at all.

Everyone still calls it gesso but it is basically an acrylic primer.

Thank you

It's "technically not gesso" means that it is not the same material that painters used for hundreds of years to prepare their canvases and other surfaces for the application of paint.

Like Wiki says, it's an acrylic based suspension of of calcium carbonate. The Calcium carbonate gives "tooth", a jagged surface that adheres to the paint very well.

The issue is how good does an acrylic suspension adhere to smooth metal and plastic surfaces? As good as an oil based spray primer? Doubtful.

I do use Gesso, It has uses, but be aware of the limitations.

I use Gesso as my main primer, for resin, plastic, and metal figures. I also apply a wash using Minwax Polyshades Urethane Stain, as a finish. This seals the paint, and the Gesso primer, fairly well. Been doing this since the late 1990's, with few failures, on 700+ miniatures. Cheers!