Gesso base coat Question

[foamer01]

Hello,
I have a question. I still am in preschool when it comes to carving and learning alot reading your posts. I just took a bird carving class and had a question about Gesso. The instructor had us use this after we sealed with lacquer. He wanted it put on full strength but almost dry brushing to avoid filling in the detail we had just put in, this makes sense. Just wondering, I have done some airbrushing, could you just use some white and accomplish the same effect and as thin as airbrush paint is, you wouldn't loose detail, it would be a bit more even, and faster? So this is my question. Thanks

[Blackjaxe]

Gesso is a primer, Airbrush paint isn't. What surprises me is your instructor had you use the gesso full strength. Depending on the manufacturer gesso can vary quite a bit, it can be as thick as margarine or as thin as soup. Normally your gesso should be thinned to the consistancy of cream, and by using it this way your do not lose detail.

Gesso gives your acrylic paint something to stick to, without it the chances are your paint will simply wipe off the lacquer sealer and you will have a heck of mess trying to do spot repairs and in the end give up....however if this does occur you can take full strength alcohol and dunk the bird into this and your acrylic will disolve and now you can gesso the proper way. The Lacquer Sealer does not provide enough tooth for the paint to stick to, gesso provides that and I for one would never use lacquer sealer. There are lots of really good acrylic sealers on the market, easy to clean up and provides are perfect base for the gesso.

Do yourself a favour and thin your gesso with both water and airbrush medium and you will not lose all the hard work you have put into the carving. I'm not sure who the instructor was and I do not want to offend anyone but I've been using this formula for priming my boards for over 3 decades and never had a single failure.

Ken

[markken5889]

Ken, your tips are always a home run in my book!
Thanks for sharing so much of your talent and insights. As always, they're greatly appreciated.

Mark

[Blackjaxe]

Thanks Mark, greatly appreciate your remarks. I drives me nuts when I see so many people having issues and problems when it comes time to paint. Misinformation just seems to abound, especially with sealing and priming your carving.

Lets take a different approach to this issue, imagine you get into a fenderbender with your new ride. So now you go to a autobody shop and get a new fender and trim..How long do you think the paint would last if they just sprayed on a matching colour with ABSOLUTELY NO PREPARATION. I would venture to say that the first time you took it to a car wash your paint would end up going down the drain.

Ken

[foamer01]

Hello,
Thanks for taking time to explain better how you do it. That is so nice to come up with techniques that work. Like I say, very much a beginner here and just trying to learn. I thought it a bit strange that he wanted us to put on the Gesso full strength for fear of filling in what took me a long time to create, however he said that with a stiff brush it would be just fine, and for that, this inexpereinced carver did as I was instructed to do. Now for my next delima. I was reviewing a step by step carving and painting book put out by Wildfowl Carving regarding the Goldfinch by Victor Paraoyan, (I think the spelling is close), after the carving is finished he says seal with Deft laquer, Then airbrush watery warm white (milky consistancy). Is it safe to assume that from your post that you would still advise against this? And please please understand that I don't think what you are saying wrong, I am just trying to come up with what works with best results. Also, do you airbrush birds, or strictly use a brush. And again thanks for your willingness to help out a newbie.
Foamer

[songbirds]

Mark, I have been carving birds and fish for sometime, and have had the luxury of taking several carving classes. Some instructors apply the gesso full strength or diluted. When we dry brush most of the gesso is taken out of the brush. I have used both methods, it depends on the type of texture i have to deal with. I did airbrush gesso only once, didn't like it, i believe it can fill in your fine texturing if not careful. As for the deft lacquer. i believe sealer is a misnomer and this is why we dilute it with 50% lacquer thinner, so that it will soak into the work and after 3 coats or until it turns shiny is it sealed. Good luck
Jerry

[AlArchie]

Another alternative I have used sucessfully is krylon spray white primer. Automobile primer can also work, but is usually lacquer based so it would seem that could be used instead of the lacquer used as sealer...just use the lacquer white ( or gray or rust) primer.

Al

[totova2004]

I hope what I have been doing is acceptable,please tell me if I am doing it all wrong.Fist I just paint with watered down acrylic paints or full strengh,after I let my painting dry I just spray it with clear acrylic. Is this ok? I sometime just airbrush then I spray the acrylic over it.

[BC20]

Foamer
Ken is right on the money. You need to seal your carving with a product you can live with, and Ken gave you good advise, but if you don't thin down that gesso to a milky consistency, then you better have a crying towel handy. I was taught this method and it hasn't let me down yet. The dry brushing you mentioned may very well be a technique but I always worry about covering up my texture. So a little at a time will probably give you a bit more confidence and you can determine the amount you want to apply by simple observation. Good luck

Bob