I’ve stretched the canvas and primed the linen with rabbit skin glue so now the first layer of gesso goes on. Gesso is a white paint mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment, or any combination of these. It’s an undercoat essentially with a matt and slightly rough surface which the paint can adhere to. I now apply 3 coats of gesso over a number of days, making sure each coat is completely dry before applying the next.
