absorbent ground

[Paul_Guraedy]

Golden Paint's "Absorbent Ground".

Has anyone tried this product?

I was talking to a friend (a watercolorist) about the problems of using watercolor on my carvings. Especially those that have had extensive burning (virtually all of mine do).

He said a friend of his recently started painting on wood, masonite, etc. When he asked her how watercolor works on these surfaces, she told him that she puts on a coat of gesso then absorbent ground. This makes the surface react about the same as paper. She even recommended it for watercolorists working on canvas.

A year, or so, ago I switched from gesso to using gouache as a base. Watercolor washes work better on it. But, I am still not totally satisfied.

I think I will try her method and also using the absorbent ground straight onto the wood. Just wonder if it requires the gesso to bond to the wood. Anyway, I have lots of scrap pieces ready as I test the temp on my burning pen prior to using it on the carving.

[bygeorge]

Paul, really interesting. Please let us know how this product works.

Chuck

[Kenny_S]

Paul, not being a painter, was also curious to the gouaches use instead of gesso. All another method!
Thanks

[Paul_Guraedy]

Kenny, in watercolor, white does not work well on wood. The alternative I was given is gesso. Two things I do not like about gesso: 1) It tends to leave the carving with a "slick" look which I do not like. 2) It is difficult to put watercolor washes over gesso.

A friend told me about gouache. The best description I can give (not being a painter) is that gouache is between watercolor and acrylic. The only color I have used is white. It solved the two problems I mentioned.

But, I would like something to use, as a base, that has the potential of covering up burn lines, discolorations in the wood, etc. From what I have found out so far (experimentation will have to wait until I return from Debbe's class), absorbent ground may be the alternative to gesso.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

If you want to "whiteout" everthing, i.e., burnlines, old paint, dirty marks, even red you might try "Kilz", a primer available from any home store. It covers it all! I especially use it to prime metal parts so the acrylic paint will adhere. Just did a little 1 1/2" X 2" Wanted posted for a scene I'm working on. I made the blank out of tin and primed it with Kilz then painted it with acrylic washes. Works great.

[AlArchie]

Paul, I'm familiar with gesso, but what the heck is "absorbent ground Is that a base mixed with diatomacious earth? Or maybe diatomacious earth dusted on a wet primer?
Never heard of that one.

Lynn, ya beat me to the Kilz suggestion. That stuff also works on covering knots...not as well as shellac, I don't think, but it does stop a lot of "grain rise", too. Wasn't aware that it was a good metal primer, also. Thanks for that tip!

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Al.....Kilz also makes a primer that has shellac in it for those problems. Saw it in the store yesterday as I was buying a new can of the other stuff.

I tried using the regular grey metal primer but it just didn't work. This stuff seems to do the trick!

About the only absorbent ground I use around here is the stuff I put in Boomer's stall and even that doesn't work all the time!

[Paul_Guraedy]

Lynn, we are using a lot of kilz in the house we are building. Putting it on all of the walls prior to painting. Don't know why I did not think of it in relation to carving. With such a ready supply (10 gallons left) I will try kilz with watercolors and see if it solves the two problems I have. It does seem to dry with less of a "slick" look than gesso.

Al, I had never heard of this stuff and none of my watercolor painting friends had mentioned it prior to last week. I stopped by an art supply store and got a canister of Goldern Absorbent Ground (White). They also had some without the white designation. We opened both and found one to be an off-white that we are wondering if it drys clear.

It says, on the canister, "A 100% Acrylic Polymer Emulsion Ground. Useful for creating acrylic and traditional watercolor washes on gessosed surfaces." The information I was given, through a friend, is that it makes surfaces such as plywood and masonite react like watercolor paper.

I am wondering why it has to go on over gesso and not straight on the wood? When I return from OKlahoma, I will expeiment with it.

[AlArchie]

Paul, I have been checking several on-line art supplies and it seems like my original guess was off.....this stuff probably has nothing in common with the absorbency of diatomacious earth, but refers more to "ground" as a base for watercolors and other paints to adhere to, or more accurately, soak into. Still was unable to find any of the ingredients in the stuff, so maybe it is that diatomacious earth.

Al

[squbrigg]

When I first saw this title.....I figured that Paul had developed some kind of material to spread around under where you carve, to absorbe all the blood from cuts! Goes to show you, titles can be decieving!

Sorry,,,,couldn't help myself.

Bob