What is the best primer?
What primer would best suit my art project?
Acrylic Gesso - has a slight tooth which can be sanded down to make a super smooth surface if required. It is more absorbent than regular acrylic primer and is well suited to watercolour types effects in acrylic and oil. Stains are easily created on an acrylic gessoed surface. We recommend 3 layers of acrylic gesso for a surface that can be painted on with oils as well as acrylic.
Acrylic Primer - a less absorbent white ground than acrylic gesso, which can be applied to a number of natural surfaces such as wood and canvas. Versatile, opaque and worth keeping in your studio supplies!
Oil Primer - Oil based primer which dries to a more slippery finish. Can be thinned with solvents if necessary and tinted with quantities of oil colour. Use only if you intend to paint with oils - it is not advised to paint acrylic paint on to an oil primed surface as it takes longer to dry and will undermine the structure of your paint surface.
Other primers
Clear acrylic medium can be used as a clear acrylic size on all surfaces that you wish to paint oil and acrylic paint on to. Follow the instructions of your chosen product to find out the recommended number of coats, although as a general rule 3 coats of acrylic primer medium will be sufficient for both acrylic and oil painting. we also sell special grounds that are specially developed for use by pastel painters and watercolour painters. In this category you will also find the ingredients to make your own traditional gesso: Rabbit skin glue and Whiting (French Chalk).
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