Black gesso is a versatile painting primer used by artists to prepare canvases and other surfaces for acrylic or oil painting. Making your own homemade black gesso is easy and cost effective. This article will walk you through everything you need to know about making black gesso from scratch.
What is Black Gesso?
Black gesso is a paint primer made from a mixture of paint pigment, chalk, glue, and water. It creates a smooth, absorbent surface for painting by providing a bit of texture or “tooth” for the paint to grip onto. Using gesso ensures that paint glides smoothly onto the surface and prevents absorbent surfaces like canvas from sucking too much pigment from the paint.
Here are some key facts about black gesso:
- The standard color is black, but white gesso and custom tinted gesso is also available.
- It is typically used on canvas, wood, paper, cardboard, and other porous surfaces as a pre-painting primer.
- Gesso seals the surface and prevents the canvas or wood fibers from protruding through the paint.
- The texture helps paint adhere evenly to the surface.
- Acrylic gesso can be used under acrylic or oil paints. Traditional gesso contains animal glue and is used for oil painting.
- It dries quickly and forms a flexible, durable surface for painting.
Using black gesso allows you to skip the step of covering the white gesso with a black paint coat before starting your painting. Starting with a black canvas also helps colors look more vibrant and saturated.
Benefits of Making Homemade Black Gesso
While quality premade gesso can be purchased from art supply stores, there are some benefits to mixing your own at home:
- Cost savings – Making it yourself is cheaper than buying premixed gesso.
- Control of ingredients – You can customize the formula to get the exact consistency and texture you prefer.
- Large quantities – Mixing large batches allows you to gesso numerous canvases at once.
- Specific colors – You can tint it any shade besides just black or white.
The basic ingredients – glue, paint pigment, chalk, and water – are very affordable and can yield a lot of homemade gesso. Getting the ratio of ingredients right takes some trial and error, but once you have a good formula, mixing your own can save money over the long term if you paint frequently.
What You Need to Make Black Gesso
Making your own quality black gesso is simple with these household ingredients and materials:
Ingredients
- Liquid glue – White school glue or wood glue
- Paint pigment – Carbon black acrylic paint or black oil paint
- Chalk – Calcium carbonate powder or whiting powder
- Water
Materials
- Stir sticks
- Spoons
- Mixing containers – Buckets, jars, plastic tubs
- Funnel (optional)
- Strainer (optional)
These basic supplies allow you to mix gesso in any quantity needed. Choose glue suited for the painting medium – white craft glue works for acrylics and wood glue for oils. Pick carbon black pigment for intense black color.
Black Gesso Recipe
Here is a standard recipe for making black gesso at home:
| 1 cup glue (wood glue or white glue) |
| 2 cups warm water |
| 1 tablespoon carbon black paint pigment |
| 2.5 cups chalk (calcium carbonate) |
This quantity is enough to cover around 3-4 small to medium sized canvases. Adjust amounts as needed to make more or less gesso.
Step 1 – Mix the Glue and Water
First, pour 1 cup of glue into a mixing container like a plastic tub or bucket. Add 2 cups of warm water and stir thoroughly until well blended. Using warm water helps the glue dissolve and mix smoothly.
Step 2 – Add Pigment
Next, add 1 tablespoon of carbon black acrylic paint pigment or black oil paint. Carbon black provides an intense black color. Stir the pigment into the diluted glue mixture until fully incorporated.
Step 3 – Add Chalk
Gradually sift 2.5 cups of chalk powder into the container while stirring constantly. Chalk acts as a filler and gives the gesso an optimal consistency that is not too thin or thick. Mix thoroughly until the chalk is dispersed and there are no lumps.
Step 4 – Adjust Consistency
If needed, thin the gesso with more warm water, adding just a little at a time and mixing well after each addition. Stop adding water when the gesso reaches the consistency of pancake batter – smooth and just pourable but not watery.
If it seems too thin, you can thicken it up by sifting in more chalk powder a little at a time.
Step 5 – Strain for Smooth Texture
For ultra smooth gesso, pour the mixture through a strainer or nylon stocking into another container. This catches any tiny chalk lumps and results in a perfectly smooth liquid gesso ideal for painting.
Once strained, the gesso is ready to use. Store homemade gesso in a sealed container and use within 1-2 weeks before it starts to spoil.
How to Apply Black Gesso
Applying black gesso to canvases, boards, and other surfaces is a simple process. Here are some tips for getting smooth, even coverage:
1. Choose a brush
Use a wide brush between 1-3 inches suited for acrylic painting. A flat or rounded shape works well. synthetic bristles are best for gesso.
2. Apply in long strokes
Moving from top to bottom or side to side, brush on the gesso in long, slightly overlapping strokes. Applying in one direction helps ensure smoothness.
3. Maintain a wet edge
Work in sections, maintaining a wet edge where the freshly applied gesso meets gesso that is still wet. This prevents lap marks or brush strokes from overlapping and drying at different rates.
4. Work quickly
Acrylic gesso dries fast, so work at an efficient pace and don’t brush back over areas that have dried.
5. Apply 2-3 coats
Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. Two or three coats ensures proper sealing and coverage. Sand lightly between coats if needed.
6. Seal edges
Brush gesso over the sides and edges of the canvas or wood substrate to completely seal the surface.
Once the final coat has dried, the surface is ready for painting in acrylics or oils. Lightly sanding with fine sandpaper can help improve the tooth for paint to adhere to.
Tips for Making Black Gesso
Follow these tips when making your own homemade black gesso for optimal results:
- Mix the ingredients in the exact ratios from a reliable recipe. Varying the amounts of glue, pigment, or chalk will impact the results.
- Make sure each ingredient is thoroughly combined and smooth with no lumps.
- Use warm water and stir continuously when adding the chalk to prevent clumping.
- Sift the chalk into the glue mixture gradually for even dispersion.
- Strain for a perfectly smooth finish – nylon stockings work great as a strainer.
- The consistency should be like pancake batter or latex paint – thick but pourable.
- Store the mixed gesso in an airtight container and use within 7-14 days.
- Keep a log with any recipe tweaks or adjustments you make for future batches.
Experimenting with the recipe and application techniques will help you dial in the perfect homemade black gesso for your artwork needs.
Troubleshooting Homemade Black Gesso
Here are some common issues that may arise with DIY black gesso and how to fix them:
Problem: Gesso is too thin and watery
Solution: Add more chalk powder gradually until desired consistency is reached.
Problem: Gesso has lumps or chalky texture
Solution: Strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer or nylon stockings. Ensure chalk is added slowly and mixed thoroughly.
Problem: Gesso cracks or peels when dry
Solution: Too much glue in the ratio. Remake new batch with more chalk and less glue.
Problem: Paint is absorbed unevenly on gesso surface
Solution: Apply additional coats of gesso until canvas tooth is uniform. Lightly sand between coats.
Problem: Brush strokes visible on dry gesso
Solution: Maintain wet edge when applying and brush in one direction. Use soft brush and avoid brushing back over dried gesso.
Tweaking the recipe ratios and following good application techniques will help avoid most issues with homemade gesso. Don’t be discouraged by imperfect results on the first try – the process takes some refinement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you paint directly on gesso?
Technically yes, you can paint directly onto gessoed surfaces without adding an additional primer layer. However, it is recommended to apply an acrylic gesso primer before painting to maximize adhesion and prevent paint absorption issues.
Does black gesso have to be sealed?
Sealing is not strictly required for canvas or wood that has been primed with black gesso. The gesso itself seals and prepares the surface for painting. However, adding a thin sealing layer of clear acrylic medium or varnish can help protect the gesso and prevent support fibers from protruding through over time.
How long does black gesso take to dry?
Drying times vary based on humidity, ventilation, and thickness of application. In general, black gesso will dry to the touch in 30 minutes to 1 hour. Allow 2-4 hours between coats, and a full 24 hours before painting or varnishing for complete curing.
Can you use gesso on canvas without primer?
It is not recommended to use gesso as a paint primer on bare canvas. Gesso is formulated to provide an ideal painting surface, while primer seals the canvas fibers. For best results, apply 1-2 coats of acrylic gesso over primer on canvas to properly prep for painting.
Does black gesso work on paper?
Yes, black gesso can be used to prepare and prime paper surfaces like watercolor paper for painting. Apply 1-2 thin coats, allowing it to fully dry between layers. The texture gesso provides helps the paint adhere properly to paper.
Conclusion
Creating your own homemade black gesso is an easy DIY project using basic art materials and supplies. Following a tested recipe and technique will allow you to achieve smooth, professional results. Preparing your own gesso can save money over buying premade options. Experiment with different ratios and customize the texture to suit your unique painting needs.