Gesso Guide: How to Prime a Canvas, Board or Paper

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-18

On 2026-10-18

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Before paint goes onto a canvas or board, most surfaces need a primer. Gesso is the primer artists use most. This guide explains what gesso does, when you need it, the difference between white, black and texture gesso, and how to apply it smoothly with the right brush.

What is gesso and why use it?

Acrylic gesso is a thick, paint-like primer. Brushed onto a surface and left to dry, it seals the surface and gives it a slightly toothy texture that paint can grip. That stops raw canvas, wood or card from soaking up your paint, helps colours look brighter, and makes the surface more even to work on.

Do you need to prime a ready-made canvas?

Not usually. Our Bomeijia stretched canvases, such as the 20 × 20cm and 20 × 30cm sizes, are already primed with acrylic gesso, so you can paint straight away. Some artists add one or two extra coats for a smoother surface, but that’s optional. Gesso matters most on raw canvas, wood, MDF board, card and paper. Our canvas guide explains the different canvas types.

Types of gesso

White gesso: the standard primer, giving a bright white ground.
Black gesso: a dark ground that makes bright colours, neon and metallic paints stand out, popular for night scenes and dramatic backgrounds.
Texture gesso: a thicker primer that adds a rough, toothy surface for expressive, textured paintings.
Coloured or tinted gesso: you can mix a little acrylic paint into white gesso to make a toned ground, such as a soft grey or warm brown.

Gesso and brushes we stock

Mont Marte Premium White Texture Gesso 500ml: primes and adds texture, for textured abstracts and for priming canvas and board.
Art Nation Black Gesso 500ml: a black acrylic primer for canvas, wood and paper.
Gesso Brush 4 Pieces Pack: four wide, flat brushes for gesso, primer and varnish.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all oils and mediums and canvases.

How to prime a surface with gesso

Make sure the surface is clean, dry and free of dust.
Stir the gesso well. If it is very thick, you can thin the first coat with a little water; follow the directions on the label.
Brush on a thin, even coat with a wide flat brush, working in one direction.
Let it dry completely. Drying time depends on thickness and the weather.
If you want a very smooth surface, sand lightly with fine sandpaper and wipe away the dust.
Add a second thin coat at right angles to the first. Two or three thin coats are better than one thick one.
Let the final coat dry fully before painting.

Tips and common mistakes

Wash your gesso brush with water straight after use. Dry gesso is very hard to remove from bristles.
Keep a separate brush for gesso and varnish, so paint residue doesn’t streak your primer.
Thick, single coats can crack or stay tacky. Thin coats dry better.
Gesso is made for acrylic and oil painting; for watercolour, use watercolour paper instead.
Close the tub tightly so the gesso doesn’t dry out.

Once your painting is finished and dry, protect it with varnish. Our varnishing guide shows how.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use gesso on paper?

Yes. Gesso can prime card and heavy paper for acrylic painting. Thin paper may wrinkle, so use thicker card or tape it down first.

Can I paint oil paint on acrylic gesso?

Yes. Acrylic gesso is widely used as a ground for both acrylic and oil painting.

How many coats of gesso do I need?

Usually two to three thin coats on raw surfaces. A ready-primed canvas doesn’t need any, though one extra coat can make it smoother.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you choose the right primer and surface for your painting.

More Haanz Art Guides