PRIME like a PRO - How to gesso a canvas the correct way so you can PAINT like a PRO! 2020

Have you ever wondered if you’re priming your canvas correctly? After all, priming a canvas is the best way to start a professional piece. Let me teach you how and explain why it is so important to prime even a “pre-primed” canvas. 2020 Art Hacks.
Purchase Gesso on Amazon HERE: amzn.to/3TEI2lx
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Bonus Tip: Learn how to make your own homemade gesso by watching Clive5Art : • How to Make Homemade G...
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Music credit:
Atmospheric by Bynx (Zach Rice) aka my brother
/ atmospheric-master
Download full song for free here: theartistunion.com/tracks/b6993d
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Thank you for watching!
Remember to stay peaceful as a calm mind is a creative mind.
Now- go get inspired, be an influence, and make something beautiful today.
Love and Light,
Jenna Rice
@jennariceart
priming a canvas, how to prime a canvas, painting on canvas, gesso, Jerry's Artarama, canvas, art, painting on canvas
Learn how to make your own homemade gesso by watching Clive5Art : • How to Make Homemade G...

[@1977ajax]

Many people seem to have trouble when making alteration to their work when the previous coats of paint underneath come off too! Another problem is that vibrant work can sink in and after a few days look dull and boring. This happens because they did not prime properly. This is particularly so with budget canvases because even though their structure may be good enough to use, their basic primings are often weak and of low quality - that's why the canvas was cheap after all. Begin by removing as much of the factory priming as is possible by a good sanding of the surface before you do anything else. Then you have to use decent quality 'gesso' - the whole structure of your painting depends on that, and economising here by buying budget gesso is a big mistake. Two coats laid on with a big brush swept out in star shapes so that every part of the canvas is brushed in all directions - don't paint it on in lines. As shown in the video is good, but better still is to develop a quick 'figure of eight' motion moving across the surface, with the tip of the brush never leaving the canvas. A tiny bit of colour added to alternate coats helps you see what you're doing. Sand lightly between coats and wipe with a slightly damp cloth after every coat. ETA -Fennel- Ferrule.

[@lindaarsenault3223]

Thank you so much for your thorough explanation. You’re a good teacher 😊

[@adrianarondon-rivero6883]

Thanks for this beautiful class

[@chrisgardner7731]

Thank you for the lesson, very pleasant video

[@TheBblanchard]

Thank you so much for this information! I bought some of those level 3 canvases from Michaels and just assumed they were ready to go. I used your video and primed it with some liquidtex gesso. It really helped! Thank you again!

[@toddmarybern9903]

Complex and professional

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you!

[@OWLFAMILY1]

Very helpful, thanks

[@sandiguinnartescape]

Wow. I have not ever seen any of the artist I follow do this. This was great. Thank you

[@JennaRiceArt]

I’m so happy it was helpful! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@joebrann4612]

I think you did it perfect 😃

[@Rose-pf6pk]

Thank you for this helpful video! And from now on, this English teacher’s daughter is calling “that” part of my brush a fennel, LOL, in honor of the classy response you gave!! ❤ Thank you again!

[@almabeston7777]

Thank you. The next art class asks for gessoed canvases and black underpainting and I have never done this before. The use of the mask is important for us painters to practice safe habits.

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you for watching! I hope it helped 😊

[@fionadent7800]

Thank you. Useful info

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thanks, I’m glad it helped!

[@philliphughes7712]

Love this Video 📹 ❤

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you so much! I hope it helps

[@augustasilvis297]

Thank u for that video

[@celdfly]

Thanks for sharing...

[@ZadenZane]

I got two sets of advice when I was starting out with acrylic on canvas... 1: add at least 5 to 7 coats of gesso to the canvas (which is always shop-bought and pre-primed) then sand it as smooth as possible, leave for 24 hours and you're ready to go. Or 2: put at least 2coats of gesso on your canvas. But then add several coats (5 or more) of student-grade white paint. The white paint seems to work far better at giving a smooth ground to paint on. Am I doing the right thing? I'm new to this, any advice much appreciated!

[@muhmadabdelrazaq4278]

Thank you my dear Do you put water on canvas before you put the jesso ?

[@robertatorres7570]

After my second coat of gesso I lose the texture of the canvas . I can no longer see the weaving of the canvas. It’s just a smooth surface of gesso after . Doesn’t look like a canvas anymore. Am I applying to much gesso or is that how it’s supposed to look?

[@edwardandrews1381]

Gorgeous Lady !!

[@JennaRiceArt]

That’s very sweet, thank you!

[@jay8353]

Question..... Do you still think it's a good idea to gesso the canvas on top of the ones it comes with for spray paint art. I don't know if you meant just for oil or acrylic brush painting or spray paint art as well?

[@xialeevang5174]

How soon can you paint after prepping with gesso?

[@BigBear-qr4zn]

Thanks for sharing 👍 please stay safe 🙏

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you for watching! Same to you 🙏

[@HolyGrailOfGolf]

One coat if fine or two?

[@NorvalHenderson]

I am just beginning to paint with oil and I am confused, wanting to know the difference between priming prepping and undercoating and why to use one or the other.

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thanks for watching! For oil painting, you should use a high quality Gesso (in college, we called that “priming your canvas”) under your painting to make sure you’re using less oil paint - your painting will last longer that way, too! My understanding of an undercoating would be maybe my first layer of oil and thinner (no linseed oil medium) after a few layers of gesso and sanding.

[@artbyzuzu4114]

Super👍👏

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you so much!

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thank you so much!

[@monikazimovaart]

I am not sure if gesso is actually flexible. Mine was dry, chalky and cracked when I bent the canvas.

[@ananolan9430]

Do you sand in between each layer of gesso that you put down? Do you also sand after the last layer?

[@Gina-if1ek]

Can't believe she didnt' go further, but yes, I think you can sand in-between. I will put 2-3 layers of gesso on and will usually sand each layer. :)

[@Flux_One]

@@Gina-if1ek Perfect response

[@JennaRiceArt]

Yes, I’m sad I didn’t explain more thoroughly. Sometimes I’m in a rush to just get my videos out and miss something. That’s what the comments are for! Thanks! I always sand between layers- especially the final layer.

[@allencampbell1058]

Is sand paper reusable or swtich to another canvas with another sand paper

[@JennaRiceArt]

Yes, you can absolutely reuse sandpaper until it no longer sands the canvas. I’d suggest only using it over white gesso, though. Any colors will transfer.

[@yomamma.ismydaddy216]

How long should I wait inbetween applying multiple coats/sanding of gesso?

[@vladimir4348]

2-4 hours

[@yomamma.ismydaddy216]

@@vladimir4348 sweet thank you

[@JennaRiceArt]

Agreed! It depends on how thick you coat it, too…. Nice and thin, even coats are the best!

[@aditharaawanka8828]

Can I mixed another colour with gesso ?

[@JennaRiceArt]

You can, but it may wind up looking pasty. I’ve honestly never tried that.

[@texasironforge.4913]

Do you just rinse your brush off with water or with paint thinner

[@Lola.Menggay]

water only its ok

[@peachyvideos2848]

What brand is that respirator you use?

[@Lola.Menggay]

3m

[@davidbrieske6148]

A fennel?! No, that's a plant! That part of the brush is called a ferrule.

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thanks! Geez I learned/remembered that completely wrong 😑

[@user-co7kw3tw2l]

Do we mixt gesso with water ..????

[@JennaRiceArt]

You can but I wouldn’t suggest using a lot- only enough to get the paint to move across the canvas evenly. Too much water could ruin the Gesso.

[@agatacep8348]

I have a question… I used gesso on a canvas, let it dry, but when i tried painting on it with oil paints, they dried up almost immediately… almost like the gesso absorbed it, this never happened on a canvas without gesso. What did i do wrong? Thanks for the video!

[@cinereus3601]

What type of gesso did you use?

[@JennaRiceArt]

Hmm, It may be the gesso you used, but it’s hard to say. Did you put thin layers down and sand between layers? There’s also a chance it may be the oil paint. Do you use linseed oil as your medium?

[@rduff1999]

Hi Agata, I'm wondering if you used an acrylic gesso. My understanding is that acrylic gesso is absorbent and sucks the oil out of the paint leaving a dull look. I've heard that a way to prevent this is to prepare the surface with a very thin layer of just oil and then wipe most of it off. As an oil painter adhering closely to traditional methods, I haven't tried it myself. Hope this is helpful. Happy painting.

[@agatacep8348]

Yes I checked and it was an acrylic gesso. I will try this, thank you! @@rduff1999

[@agatacep8348]

I put thin layers, sanded and also used lindseed oil. It was an acrylic gesso, so maybe that was the problem. Thank you for your answer, I will try with different materials 🙂 @@JennaRiceArt

[@philliphughes7712]

How long should you let it dry before painting on it?

[@Flux_One]

24 hours typically

[@JennaRiceArt]

It all depends on how much gesso you apply to the canvas. Once it’s sanded properly, it should be dry enough to paint on… I’ve never had any problems. Otherwise, just wait until the next day to be absolutely sure. Thank you for watching!

[@Darryl603]

I think you meant to say ferrule instead of fennel,,, Do they still teach paintbrush anatomy in College?

[@JennaRiceArt]

I did mean to say that- good catch?Unfortunately, no, that wasn’t part of the curriculum

[@Darryl603]

@@JennaRiceArt I have OTJ training lol

[@chelsiefiscus9502]

Can you make a bunch more new videos on prepping canvasses and how to put the wedges in an when to use them, an all the things a new to painting on canvas person would need to know!!!!!!!! PLEASE💛

[@JennaRiceArt]

I’d love to do that! It has actually been on my mind. Right now I’m focusing on more spray paint related videos but would love to circle back to some canvas pieces in the near future so stay tuned. Thanks for watching!

[@Darryl603]

@@JennaRiceArt don't circle back like circle back Saki

[@islipirene]

There is no latex is Liquitex products.

[@bahramsasani1234]

👍🌹❤️🌹🍀🇩🇪

[@lorileilove7898]

This expert says the fennel is the metal part of a brush but it's actually a vegetable used to flavor sausage. You're supposed to be careful the paint doesn't get on the ferrule.

[@JennaRiceArt]

It’s already been mentioned in comments but thanks for the catch!

[@drawinaminutewithdr.rajasa8861]

😅🌹🌹😁

[@Mr.G333]

Helllllllo

[@JennaRiceArt]

Hi! Thanks for watching!

[@cinaasgharzadeh308]

You mean “ferrule” not “fennel.” The metal part of the brush is the ferrule.

[@JennaRiceArt]

Thanks for catching that! geez I’ve had it wrong the whole time! 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@cinderblockstudios]

I like this video a lot, and you're presentation is awesome! But........ you do NOT need to prime pre-primed canvases! It's a preference for artists and NOT something you should be telling people you must do. Also cheap/homemade gesso is the opposite of gessoing like a pro. A lot of what you're worried about in terms of the "tightness" of a canvas can be done with stretcher keys for a lot less money.

[@craiggower6248]

Right.. those canvases are primed 2-4 times already 😂

[@davidbrieske6148]

Those canvases really should be primed, not gessoed (which is a different material and process altogether) because if you hold them up to a light, you'll see a ton of pinholes, where the 'gesso' didn't seal. That primer should be applied with a knife to press it into the weave. A brush will not do this, no matter how much you try.

[@JennaRiceArt]

I do agree with that. Years later I realized the difference. Anyway, I was taught in college to always prime a canvas, even if it is pre-primed. They’re never primed enough- the pinholes are exactly my point. You save paint the more you prime.

[@marionoz9980]

You have over looked one important thing in your statement, many people starting out which I would think be the majority who are looking at this video would likely be buying the cheaper end of stretched canvases and of which the quality of the priming would accordingly not be the best. I have been taught by artists who are very successful and all emphasise the preparation of the canvas is very important to the finished look you want to achieve, some like to actually be able to see the weave of the canvas. For someone starting out using gesso will help a lot with the way the paint is absorbed.

[@mulkenworku8909]

Are,usure