Add more powder to the gesso for this kind of effect.
Every artist will tell you that priming a canvas with gesso prior to painting is vital to achieving the right results. However, less well known is that the potential uses for gesso in home decoration are virtually endless. Akin to stucco or plaster, gesso's ability to produce interesting, raised or indented surfaces makes it ideal for fancy furniture panels and intricate picture frames or friezes. However, ready-made gesso does not come cheap, and most gesso you find in stores is acrylic-based, which makes it unsuitable for burnishing. A great money-saving alternative is to make your own using a few simple ingredients.
Instructions
1. Place 2½ pints of water into a tin can. Place the three washers or spacers at the bottom of the saucepan and place the can of water on top of the washers. The can has to be placed on the spacers so its bottom is clear of the heat.
2. Place the saucepan on the stove at very low heat and wait until the water is hot. Make sure that the water never reaches boiling point.
3. Add approximately 10 oz. PVA glue to the water. Leave the saucepan on low heat until the glue has completely dissolved in the water. This takes from three to eight hours.
4. Sift the talcum powder carefully into the water-and-glue mixture. Stir continuously as you add the powder, making sure to avoid the formation of air bubbles. Retain the heat at very low temperature while you are adding the powder. The amount of powder you add depends on the consistency you require, but as a guide the mixture should roughly resemble batter.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and put it to one side to cool. The mixture will be sufficiently cooled in one hour. The gesso is then ready for application.
