I'm not an expert on gesso, but I did come across some cool things when working with it in my journal a few years ago. I discovered it had an incredible resist quality. Most of us think of gesso as a type of prep or primer for a surface. If you cover a canvas or page with gesso and let it dry really well (like overnight) then you can paint over it and spray it with water to get a cool speckle effect. Gesso can also be used to make a textural pattern. Stamp with it, let it really dry, then paint over it. You can buff it down with a damp rag and the gessoed area will resist the paint. Once your paper is super dry you can even use sand paper to reveal more of the image.
Like Crusade No. 21 (back in June) where we did resist with wax rubbings, this is just an exercise to try something new or revisit it. Spend a day playing with gesso and show us what you discover. Think of it as a way to make some cool backgrounds in your journal. (Keep notes in the margin of how you did it.) Here are some of my studies:
The exercise of trying gesso under, and gesso over, is to get to know how gesso behaves and it's unique properties. Once you have made a sampler of each try layering more and more with acrylic and gesso. The key to avoiding muddy colors is to let the page dry between layers. If there is part of a page you don't like you can re-work it, but wait for some dry time first. Try monoprinting with gesso, then layer on color. What? You want a tutorial on monoprinting? Stay tuned for a future crusade.
Look like fun? Try it! Just think of it as an appointment with creativity and you'll end up with some wicked backgrounds. You don't have to show us a completed journal page, just show us what you learned by playing with gesso. New to the Crusades? You can find out more info at the link upper left or HERE. Everyone is welcome to come play - it's all about sharing and widening our circle of friends. If you are a "cruiser", and like to visit the crusades and crusaders but don't participate yet, be sure to leave them a comment. We all like to be validated, especially when we go out on a limb and share stuff we make in order to encourage others to make cool stuff too.
CRUSADE NO. 25 ~ Properties of Gesso DUE DATE: December 1st.
Edit: Oops! Forgot to say - leave your participating link in the comments below to be including in the Top Hat Pick.
With the holidays coming up I have an easy crusade planned for December, then we will get back to painting in January. Try gesso this month - you'll have lots of backgrounds prepared in your journal - ready for the busy weeks ahead.
EDIT: Archived links have been moved from sidebar to here.
CRUSADE No. 25
- Arlene
- Barbara Smith
- Becky New
- Bre
- Chris Miser
- Chris Miser (more)
- Dale
- Elizabeth Woodford
- Hanna Andersson
- Hedwig
- Inge Bekaert
- JeriAnn
- Johanna Goisser
- Julie Prichard
- Kathryn Antyr
- Kim Mailhot
- Kim Tedrow
- Laura Bray
- Lay Hoon
- Leah
- Lee
- Lorraine
- Marci Glenn
- Marie Johansen
- Megan Warren
- Megan Warren (more)
- Melissa Sabin
- Melissa Sabin (C19)
- Michelle Brown
- Michelle Ward
- Pam Carriker
- Paula Long
- Paula Long (more)
- Robin Mayberry
- Rosie Rowe
- Sue Pieper (C22 & C24)