Use gesso on a canvas before painting on it.
Priming your canvas with gesso is the beginning step of becoming a successful painter. You prime your canvas before painting on it to give your canvas a hard background that your paint will not leak through. Most painters use heavy layers of gesso on their canvas, but if you want a more natural look, you can use a light, clear gesso to prime. Clear primer lightly hardens the canvas but makes the paint appear more natural; a heavier white coat of gesso drastically hardens the canvas, but makes paint look more artificial in appearance.
Instructions
1. Mix gesso with water in a plastic container according to the manufacturer's specifications.
2. Wet your gesso brush with water. Squeeze-dry the water from the brush.
3. Dip the gesso brush into the gesso mix, getting only a small amount on the brush.
4. Brush the gesso horizontally on the canvas in long strokes. Cover the entire canvas with the gesso. Allow the coat to dry.
5. Sand the canvas with fine sandpaper, using light pressure to smooth the canvas. Wipe the canvas with a smooth, dry cloth to remove the sandpaper dust.
6. Apply a heavier second coat of gesso vertically. Cover the entire canvas and allow it to dry overnight.
7. Sand the canvas again and wipe with a cloth.
