Gesso is an essential product for any mixed media artist, and it’s especially useful in art journaling. In case you’re not familiar with it, gesso is a white, opaque paint used to prime surfaces for painting, drawing, or mixed media art. It helps to create a smooth, even surface for your artwork, and it also helps to protect your pages from damage caused by paints, markers, and other media.
If you’re new to art journaling, you might be wondering how to use gesso in your work. Here are a few ways that gesso can be used to enhance your art journaling practice:
- As a primer: One of the most common uses for gesso is as a primer for your art journal pages. If you’re working on paper, gesso will help to create a smooth surface that’s ready for paints, markers, and other media. If you’re working on a canvas or other porous surface, gesso will help to seal the surface and create a barrier between the canvas and your art materials.
- As a background: Gesso can also be used to create a solid white or off-white background for your art journal pages. Simply apply a coat of gesso to your page and allow it to dry before adding any other media. This can be a great way to create a clean, minimalist background for your artwork.
- As a resist: Gesso is also useful as a resist medium, which means that it can be used to block out areas of your art journal page that you don’t want to be covered with paint or other media. To use gesso as a resist, simply apply it to your page in the shape or pattern that you want to protect. When you add your other media, the gesso will resist the paint, creating a negative space in your artwork.
- As a texture: If you’re looking to add texture to your art journal pages, gesso is a great option. You can use a palette knife or other tool to create texture in the gesso before it dries, or you can mix it with other media like sand or glitter to create a more textured surface.
- As a writing surface: Finally, gesso can be used to create a surface that’s suitable for writing on. If you’re using a journal with thin, delicate pages, gesso can help to create a more durable surface that’s less prone to damage from pens and markers.
Overall, gesso is a versatile and essential product for any mixed media artist, and it’s especially useful in art journaling. Whether you’re using it as a primer, background, resist, texture, or writing surface, gesso is sure to enhance your art journaling practice and help you create beautiful, professional-looking artwork.
Heidi Cogdill 