Q: I am doing some large cloth backdrops for the stage. Gesso
is so expensive, but I want to make sure the background doesn't crack.
Is there something else that I can purchase by the gallon that would
work?
A: If you are not concerned with being archival, you
can use a white glossy acrylic wall paint. The gloss is more flexible
than the matte finish, and can also be mixed with artists' acrylics.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons