Reuse an Old Canvases with Gesso | Acrylic Painting

If you have paintings piling up and want to reuse your old canvas - you can! Adding a coat or two of gesso makes your surface as good as new. Gesso is cost effective and saves old projects from ending up in the landfill.
Cheers and Happy Painting ... or re-paintig 😉
SUPPLIES
- Mont Morte White Gesso : amzn.to/3dYVYDK
- Liquitex White Gesso 32oz 946ml: amzn.to/35Cczta
- 220 grit Sand paper: amzn.to/3qpg2E2
- Large Wash Brush 1" - 3" (Taklon or Nylon Blends) :amzn.to/3spdqIn
- water
- paper towel

[@almabayomi8065]

You have made my day, and actually answered a question that I was going to ask. Great instructions. So very grateful!!

[@jesserobertson]

Glad I could help! 🙂🎨

[@susanmaguire9009]

Just the info I was looking for.

[@jesserobertson]

So glad this was helpful! Check out my website for more helpful hints and tricks 🙂app.jesserobertson.com/#/tutorials

[@ashleywright8686]

So informative!! TYSM for making this video ❤🎉

[@linnettefletcher8699]

Thanks for sharing I just subscribed to your channel and I'll be watching you I'm learning a lot about gesso❤

[@jesserobertson]

Thank you Linnette! I’m so glad you enjoyed my Gesso video! You’ll pick up many more tips and tricks to acrylic painting in my other tutorials too! Happy painting! 😊

[@marycarrie5457]

Thank you Jesse much appreciated

[@jammingwheey1677]

Omg you're so nice 🥺 I learned so much!! Thank youuu❤

[@shonarosemarybaker9211]

Super helpful; thank you!

[@jesserobertson]

I’m glad you found it use full 🙂 happy painting 🎨

[@jesusreyes4787]

Thanks joung ladie u get it the rigth point the I need it 😁✌️

[@Jayne_Maya]

Great video!! 👌✔️

[@dca1983nmc2006]

Thanks

[@TACHYON-]

Thank you !

[@jesserobertson]

You're welcome!

[@usharajesh1781]

Thanks .

[@amiaq3464]

Thank you and very informative. I just wanna ask, is that okay if I repaint the painting that already coated with clear spray finishing? And if I repaint my painting for like 2 3 times, will my painting become heavier due the thickness of gesso and paint? Thank you

[@jesserobertson]

Hello! You can paint over a clear spray. As long as your not using a water based paint over an oil based spray 🙃 I often repaint my canvases 5-6 times - but only if it’s a relatively flat painting - if it’s a palette knife work, I don’t reuse.

[@rashamahmoud3868]

Thanks for this helpful tip, can we add paint to the gesso to have a coloured background? Thanks

[@jesserobertson]

Yes, you can absolutely add acrylic paint to your gesso to make a coloured ground

[@cherylcrenshaw2741]

Very informative, thank you! Can you also use Gesso as a white paint in your paintings?

[@jesserobertson]

You can - It doesn’t have the nice sheen of the acrylic polymer so it will look a bit out of place and duller than the rest of your painting - it’s also a great deal thicker because of all the calcium carbonate. I always recommend using a nice titanium white paint. But if you absolutely have to it can be used in a pinch and you can coat your painting after with Matt medium to make it all the same sheen

[@cherylcrenshaw2741]

@@jesserobertson thanks! That helped a lot!

[@seascape0881]

Thank you that helps a lot, I have a lot of canvases that my daughter painted on and no longer wants and I’d rather repurpose them. What kind of mediums can you paint with on top of the gesso is it only acrylic?

[@TofuBoy1]

If it was originally an acrylic painting, you may paint with either acrylic or oil. However, if she did an oil painting beneath, you cannot - should never - paint on top with acrylic. The acrylic is an air drying type of paint, and will basically lift the oil paint underneath and leave a big mess. It would be advised to search up how to remove the oil paint first, because you will be putting on *acrylic* gesso on top.

[@mariel3469]

Thank you great info . Since I’m a beginner some paintings need to be gesso lol and canvas reused .

[@ginaprisbrey8480]

My picture is a printed photograph, maybe on a coated fabric? Its on a stretched canvas frame. Can I use gesso on it?

[@jesserobertson]

if its an oil based coating it could peel but if it’s something you’re not attached to, why not experiment and see what happens? Have fun and get creative! 😊

[@traceymorris511]

How long does the original painting need to dry before applying gesso? 😊

[@jesserobertson]

Acrylic dries very fast! Dry time depends on: how thick the paint was applied, how humid it is and if a slow time extender/retardant was use. Even with the thickest application of paint, you’re looking at about 24 hours. Thin paint 15-30 minutes 🙂

[@traceymorris511]

Brilliant, thanks 😊

[@dianemoore2945]

Hi Jesse, I bought a painting at a yard sale how do I know if this old painting is oil paint or acrylic? I would like to love to cover it and start fresh with my own colorful creation.

[@TofuBoy1]

If It’s acrylic, it will look smoother in terms of blending. If it’s oil, then the colours tend not to be blended smoothly together. Instead, they are put on layer by layer, and the colours are more separate. Look at the paintings of flowers and fruits online of oil painting. They tend to look more, well, oily😂. Acrylic tends to have sharp edges but it is possible that the artist has done some decent blending. If it’s acrylic, there is a high chance that the painting is sealed with acrylic varnish, to stop the painting deteriorating. This makes the acrylic look glossy.

[@TofuBoy1]

Chances are it’s oil. Professionals tend to do oil

[@ashleywright8686]

Where did you get your easel/ brand?

[@jesserobertson]

Hi Ashley! I usually paint flat on a table top for my tutorials but when I do use an easel I often use this one: app.jesserobertson.com/#/watch/Table_Top_Easel-CA

[@ashleywright8686]

@@jesserobertson I love that your easel is well loved. #driedpainteverywhere ❤️

[@emilieetoiles8740]

The beautiful flower is gone ;-;

[@Journey_to_home]

can I add a picture with modpodge on this

[@jesserobertson]

Yes! You can add modpodge over gesso. Also, If you have acrylic medium, you can use it in place of modpodge as well as to extend your acrylic paints!

[@jesserobertson]

I use matte medium by liquitex to adhere images in collages 🙂

[@nararb5506]

هلو ❤هل استطيع ان ارسم بالجيسو

[@jesserobertson]

HI! Gesso is used more as a primer for canvases and paper because gesso is more absorbent and dries with more of a matte finish.

[@zefin_artzzz5305]

I recently bought gesso..... first time....but it's thicker than yours...

[@zefin_artzzz5305]

What should I do

[@jesserobertson]

You can add a little bit of water to your gesso if you’d like to thin it a bit 😊

[@LECITIZENTEN]

I never about the water on the back of the canvas trick!🥹

[@jesserobertson]

I’m so glad you learned something new! 🙂 I try to include lots of little tips and tricks in my tutorials too if you’d like to learn more! app.jesserobertson.com/#/results/everything