how best to use gesso

[wuzatrewunce]

I am getting ready to use gesso on the carved wooden horse head baby rocker for my grand daughter. My question will several coats of this product fill in any small sanding defects?

[AlArchie]

It may, but try it first on a blank pirce of wood. I've also found that spray can auto primer fills small defects pretty well, but try that on scrap first, too.

Al

[Mike L Hasler]

If it's thick enough you can build up textures with good old gesso, but you loose the grain, witch shouldn't matter on a painted item. Good luck.

[Dileon]

Just something about gesso you should know.... In 1955, a acrylic paint company developed the first water-based acrylic gesso. It provided a consistent and inexpensive primer layer for both acrylic and oil painting. In recent years, people have begun to question whether or not acrylic gesso is the right product to use under oil paint. While this isn't an issue for most people, it's something to think about if you are working with oils. Old time gesso had an animal glue base which was great with oils. This has cause the question can you paint on oil without it pealing off later???...and a great many agruments with artist. To answer the question gesso should be thin...and it takes on the shape of texture you put it on. If put on to thick it has paint lines. On painting we use mold maker or fillers...but wood wouldn't be easier just to sand it?? Just wondering Di