Liquitex Professional Gesso Surface Prep Medium, 237ml (8-oz), Black

As an artist, the foundation of any painting is crucial, and I was searching for a reliable primer to prepare my 14x14 canvas. Enter Liquitex Professional Gesso. I had heard of its reputation but was eager to see if it lived up to the hype. Upon opening the container, I was greeted with a thick, creamy texture that promised good coverage. The application was smooth, and I could feel the gesso gripping the canvas, creating a surface that was both absorbent and slightly textured—perfect for acrylics. After the recommended drying time, I was impressed by the matte white finish that not only brightened the canvas but also provided an excellent base for my paints. The true test came when I began painting. The gessoed surface allowed the acrylics to adhere beautifully, with colors appearing vibrant and true. The added tooth gave my brushwork a satisfying resistance, enhancing control and precision. I also appreciated the archival quality of the gesso, knowing it would help preserve my artwork for years to come. However, it's worth noting that the gesso's clear opacity means that any underlying pencil sketches or markings are not effectively covered, so plan your compositions accordingly. That could be great if you still want whatever’s underneath to show through, or challenging if you’re used to a dress that is white or some other color. Additionally, while the gesso provides a sturdy base, it's essential to allow each layer to dry thoroughly to avoid any lifting or smudging during subsequent applications. In conclusion, Liquitex Professional Gesso proved to be an excellent choice for priming my canvas. It delivered on its promises of quality, durability, and performance, setting the stage for a successful painting project. If you're looking for a dependable primer to ensure your artwork starts on the right foot, this gesso is a worthy investment.

This is is such a great size bottle. I was able to gesso many canvas for painting. The value of this size bottle was great and the quality of paint was perfect. The gesso stuck to the canvas perfectly and went on smooth and clean. It covered the canvas and was very durable.

I haven't used this before, I bought this on the strength of good customer reviews and videos on YT. I expect this to be excellent just as all the Liquitex products I've bought over the years - no problems, great quality and love their product line.

Black gesso is a must for painting & crafting and so this one does the job.

This is the first Gesso I've used, so I can't compare it to other brands. I used this on an adult coloring book to prepare the paper for wet mediums. I painted it on a few test pages and let it dry (didn't take long but I live in a warm climate). The page feels rough, almost like a sand paper feel, it definitely added tooth to the paper. It also slightly changed the color of the paper, it's a little more off-white now. I tested the following mediums on top of the clear Gesso: Prismacolor color pencils: Worked really well. Was able to apply a lot of water and blend. I could even go in after the watercolor was dry with more water and re-work it. Was able to use lots of water without destroying the non-watercolor paper. Koi Watercolors: Same as the watercolor pencils, as far as how it behaved. Several types of colored pencils: Didn't work well, I'm not a fan of using pencils over the Gesso. The lines were rougher and hard to blend and control. They created a lot of colored dust too so that could stain the picture if you aren't careful. Sticklers: Able to apply where needed, no issues. Acrylic paint (Americana): Was able to use acrylic without water, and also with water as more of a wash. Iridescent Medium: Mixed with watercolor, made the applied color very shimmery. Didn't give any issues over the Gesso. Art Masking Fluid: Worked fine on top of the Gesso. Still protected the paper from the watercolor, and when I pulled it off I could still feel the Gesso on the paper underneath.

I purchased this gesso for priming plywood panels for use with oil painting. I might thin it just a little next time I use it, as it's just a little bit thick. It sands very nicely when dry, and I was able to get a very smooth surface to paint on with little effort. Works great, no odor, and easy cleanup. It's water based, so you can thin with water, and very easy to use.

This was the first time I used this product and it has done a good job. I had asked AI about a certain project I was working on and worried about bleed through, but this product worked perfectly . It is a good value for the money

Have used this for years and just love the ground it makes to paint on. It’s clear which is great for layering. Dries quickly.

Un gesso très épais mais facile à poser, personnellement je l'étale au couteau et le résultat est parfait.

Bra att veta om man ska använda den på canvasduk är att den blir väldigt sträv efter påstrykning. Behöves sandpappra med fint sandpapper efteråt annars förstörs penslarna när man ska måla.

Det blev knottrigt på pappret så det är inte så bra att använda färgpennor på.

Content spilled over in and damaged my other purchases Amazon had brilliantly put together in the same package. Result: 2 books damaged and will be thrown away. How environmentally friendly is that?

I Decided to Purchase this Liquitex Gesso & give it a Try out. I Purchase a Lot of Liquitex Products & find them Of Good Quality & at Affordable prices. This Gesso Does seem alot more fluidly than the previous Gesso I had been purchasing But it Does Go on Nicely & Good coverage. I Find using a Shower Glass Window Wiper or a Large Car Filler plastic paddle Does a Grand Job at smoothly Putting this Gesso on to Canvas 👌 Applying it on with a Brush leaves Brush Lines when it drys but by using this method of applying the Gesso it leaves No Brush Mark's what so ever Which Extremely important when it comes to Painting Smooth Objects like Faces or Smooth sea scenes & Detail Art 👍 Sometimes you will Purchase a Canvas from the Store & it states its already Gesso Primed But I always Tend to Give A New Cotton stretched canvas a Couple of coats of my own Gesso. Also if You purchase a Canvas & you find that its Extremely Rough Its a Good Idea to Get some lowish Grit Grade Sandpaper & give it a sand down Making sure you Dont Put to much pressure on the canvas while Sanding . After sanding it all over give it a Wipe down to remove Dust & then simply apply this Gesso on to Canvas using something Flat and Smooth like a (Large Car body Filler Paddle ) to Apply The Gesso over the Canvas evenly making sure you cover the Whole canvas ...Then wait till Dry & Do the same process Again using some Fine Grit sandpaper to give it Another Light Sanding over 👍 Brush off Sanding Dust and Apply a 2nd coat of Gesso over Again then Leave to Dry!!! You will Now Have a Great Smooth finished Canvas...Lovely to Work on - Making it easier to Apply Paints And Better for Blending and so on 🖌🎨 I Paint in Acrylic & this Process Works Great for the Art work I create. Going back to this product I Have Found it to be Good Gesso👍 It Goes on the Canvas Nicely & spreads around Great . It's a bit on the Pricey Side for the size you get but It is Good Stuff !!! So Yes I would Definitely Recommend this Product To Anyone Looking For Some Gesso For Priming There Canvas. I Hope someone has Found This Review Helpful ? Thank you.