Q: I used to prepare my own canvas using two coats of gesso
or a rabbit-skin glue mixture. However, I recall seeing a unique canvas
prepared by a student. His prepared canvas was a mid-tone gray, and I
believe he used some type of oil mixture to achieve this result. Do you
know what mixture he might have prepared to give his canvas an oily
look with tooth (he painted on a dry canvas)?
A: Gessoes and primers are prepared for either
oil-based or water-based paint. Titanium white is the traditional
pigment that is added to both types of paint. Your student could have
chosen a gray pigment to tone the prepared gesso mix. Many artists who
prime and gesso their own canvases add a middle value color for that
purpose.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons