Gesso VS Oil Ground| What is Better?

Putting to the test which is better between Gesso and Oil ground. The Pros and Cons of each. HELP ME GROW THIS CHANNEL 🙌 Make sure to SUBSCRIBE😊
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Music: Cold
Musician: Jeff Kaale
0:00 - Intro
0:58 - About Gesso and Oil Ground
2:31 - Primer Application
6:07 - Painting on Oil Primed Canvas
7:38 - Painting on Gesso Primed Canvas
8:06 - Comparison
9:22 - Pros and Cons
15:19 - Final Thoughts
#gesso #oilpaint #Canvas

[@kraaydr]

This is the clearest comparison I’ve found between the two primers! Thanks for this great video!

[@ArtofDef]

Thank you for watching. Glad I could help!

[@mr.k5865]

Agreed. Thank you for this video. Not all heroes wear capes.

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

I have used Golden Gesso for over 50 years and have never had any sinking-in. I usually apply three coats, each SLIGHTLY diluted with water. Also, Golden Gesso is much whiter than a white oil ground. Golden Gesso is expensive because it's the real thing (calcium carbonate bound with a synthetic, flexible and perminent binder).

[@Space-gw3yj]

전 가라 앉던데 ㅠㅠ 골든 젯소 사용자입니다.

[@LyubomirIko]

There is many subtle things to mention here. Back in the days everyone made their own oil grounds. So by varying the components (chalk, pumice, oil and other) they were able to achieve absorbent surfaces too. I was reading that van Gogh for instance was preferring this sinking or dulling of the color. So surprise - It could be definitely also a desirable effect. The technique of extra absorbent grounds was heavily used by Toulouse-Lautrec, he called such paintings - painting with spirits or “peinture à l’essence” The other thing to mention is that there is many brands of Gesso and all with different recipe. And few of the brands also provide variations - both extra absorbent, normal, or gloss finish. So you could buy the glossy or non absorbent one and the colors wont sink compared to the extra absorbent one. Also there is different oil grounds. Some have lead and other are with just titanium white - again there is difference - in the "tooth" of the ground, absorbency, in the drying time, in the further preservation of the painted layer. In the past painters were using both zinc and lead white for making their grounds. Zinc is terrible as we now know, but many masterpieces were painted on this thing - thus the cracks of many paintings. Currently few manufactures are still adding a portion of zinc white into the mix with titanium grounds - because the best thing about zinc is that it provide faster drying time. Overall it is known that titanium/zinc mix just isn't that good for preservation as lead white pigment. Lead white ground mix in a fancy chemically way with the paint layer and bring Ph of the oil to neutral. But lead is much toxic of course. Personally I would prefer oil ground any day. But it is harder to make because of the drying time. Oh also the fumes. You should store it somewhere while is drying.

[@yanzibd9494]

Wow! This is the most clear comparison of the 2 primers!! I’ve watched multiple videos about it but this is stopped me from researching about my questions! I found the answers!! Kudos!

[@minnahumble2294]

Thanks for all this info about canvas grounds!

[@areynea4106]

Thank you so much for your info! Very helpful!

[@ArtofDef]

🙏🏿

[@JaeSernArt]

super informative video. Thank you!

[@hayleyhawkins]

this is exactly what i needed, thank you!

[@ArtofDef]

Glad to help

[@avialbersbenchamo4797]

Thank for making it so clear 🙏🌺

[@ArtofDef]

Thanks for watching

[@suecurtisart]

A perfect explanation of both products. As a beginner oil painter this information is so helpful to me! Thanks!!

[@ArtofDef]

Glad I could help! Thanks for watching😊

[@Chad-lavin]

Amazing...thank you for the side by side!!!!

[@ArtofDef]

Thanks for watching 🙏🏿

[@prichardgs]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@ltwig476]

I use 3 coats of med grade Gesso. I brush all 3 in really well. The 1st coat watered down and the next 2 coats sanded. Then recently I started oiling in. I go really thin on the oiling because I do like a little sinking in some areas. Other areas may get several coats of under paint. So it works out well for the effects I'm looking for. I can definitely see the advantage of oil-ground if looking for that slick rich plastic effect.

[@marcusjade26]

I really appreciate this video. I had just started an oil piece and oil grounding has definitely made a huge difference. One thing I did even with the preparation was after the first primer was that I had even set a gesso primer on top of wood panel. I sanded a little bit after and laid on top. Repeated another oil ground layer and sanded after. I found it did take long to dry as you said but it laid pretty nicely. Thank you, for this one! 💯✊🏿

[@ArtofDef]

No problem 😊 Thank you for watching!

[@shida5451]

Thanks for this great video🙏

[@ArtofDef]

Thank you for watching 😊🙏🏿

[@mmca9323]

Very informative thank you

[@inceptor_arts]

Great video... Thank you♥️

[@stoopsolo66]

Great video. Really well explained and easy to understand. I’ve heard there are also non-absorbent gessos that might solve the “sinking in” problem. My gesso is pretty absorbent, so I’m looking forward to trying the oil ground now.

[@Handles-R-Lame]

That sub zero was on point my brotha! I wish I had more practice on oil prime cause the first time I used it I was slippin and slidin like I was on a dang water slide. Maybe that means I should give it another go? Practice makes perfect I guess. Great video man.

[@ArtofDef]

Thanks a lot fam! Definitely give it another shot and practice. Even my body of work I'm always learning something new. The slipperness can also be attributed to using too much medium/thinner

[@angieevert833]

Thank you for your side by side comparison between gesso and oil ground primers. I’ve used oil ground only a few times and applied as you did using a sharp edge. I like your idea of following up with the foam roller to create more tooth. Are you able to clean the roller off, and if so, how?

[@randolphfriend8260]

🩷 Thank you for the info. I have wondered about this topic, & you have delivered. I have read a small old book that describes two ways to apply the oil ground layer. One results in a shiny surface finish; while the other creates a mat style finish to the oil painting. 🤔 hum. I have not tried either; I am still researching techniques; else, looking for artist who speak to these topics. 🩷

[@svenfigenschou7345]

you should try Michael Harding non-absorbent acrylic primer - the best. No sinking in, and dries within a couple of hours

[@zbthunderwood]

Great video! Have you ever tried Winsor and Newton oil primer? It dries way quicker than Gamblin but unfortunately has a ton of fumes. I figure both are due to it having more alkyd than Gamblin ground. One thing I've always wondered about is how much, if at all, a thinned down oil wash used to tone the canvas would affect the absorption of subsequent layers compared to just the dried primer layer.

[@ArtofDef]

Haven't tried, but may look into it as some Gamblin products are now limited in my country(Canada).

[@michaeljohnangel6359]

It depends on the pigment family. Different pigments require different amounts of oil, and too much solvent can thin the paint too much and cause sinking-in. The umbers, for instance, need a lot of oil to stop sinking-in-if you dilute them with solvent, you must add a little extra medium.

[@ewaMCC]

Thank you for the informative video. Is is possible to use Gesso primer for oil painting and at the end to varnish it? Would the varnish compensate for "sinking"?

[@ArtofDef]

Thank you for watching! Absolutely you can use Gesso. I actually prefer it when painting on my canvasses. Varnish will compensate in some cases, but I'd suggest using good quality gesso and applying a good number of layers to minimize. You can also "oil out" your painting. I have a video for that on my channel also.

[@stephenfarrell9166]

There is a different application for oil ground if using raw canvas, must size with rabbit skin glue or pva size then apply ground from container, push into canvas with plastic applicator then brush out texture with dry brush dipped in gamsol. Happy painting.

[@quanyin2123]

Is there a clear version of the oil primer like there is for the acrylic? I just started buying unstrected color canvas and I'm lover of the oil paints but dont want to loose the color

[@ArtofDef]

Thanks for the question. As far as I know, no. However I've seen oil painters use clear acrylic gesso on wood and their work turned out fine. For canvas maybe apply 4-5 coats to be safe. Thats also a common practice

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

I saw on amazone talents gesso for oil and acrylic,s.

[@82camino96]

I’m curious how long you did wait for the oil ground to dry. It’s recommended to wait a month or more. 2-3 weeks at the very least. Maybe that’s why it was “pulling” on you.

[@Ari-hi2ur]

What happens if you don’t add gamsol/paint thinner to the ground?

[@ArtofDef]

It'll just be a thick coat. Very hard to speard and probably not the best idea

[@billjenkins5422]

Can you add a color on the oil ground to get a base color?

[@ArtofDef]

I wouldn't recommend it. Perhaps just do a color wash in your first layer.

[@tigercappy8982]

Can you put oil ground on unprimed canvas? I make my own canvas and stretcher bars.

[@jhb61249]

Must prime with rabbit skin glue, or acrylic gesso, etc to separate oil from substrate or will rot. I use acrylic primed canvas and add 2 coats oil primer. But I do heavy imposto with thick builtup.

[@ArtofDef]

Yes but you must prime it first

[@jamiegossett]

the Gamblin oil primer needs to cure for 4 or 5 days before painting on it.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Several points... one, oil grounds has advantages which are not related to face value of how it takes to paint, such as longevity, oil mediums will age better when placed on oil grounds. The opposite is true of painting oil on acrylic gesso, it may seem dry, but acrylic shrinks over a number of years, and adhesion can fail after a few decades. I have seen this happen, press your finger gently on the back of any canvas over two years old, and watch the oil crack and peel off the gesso. That will not happen with oil ground.

[@ArtofDef]

Absolutely!

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

I use walnut oil alkyd painting medium. I can,t stand the smell of terpentine or gamsol or the solvence-free line of Gamblin. I use walnut oil alkyd painting medium to paint and i clean my oli brushes whit safflower oil. No funny smells happy painter😊