Gesso is the primer that gets your canvas, wood or project ready for paint, but store-bought gesso from the art supply store can get really expensive. So I make my own with a few simple ingredients, and it works just as well for a fraction of the cost.
Without gesso, paint soaks into the weave of a canvas or the grain of the wood. A couple of coats gives you a smooth surface that makes your colours really pop.
What You'll Need
1/4 cup of water
1/8 cup of white school glue
Cornstarch or baby powder
1 tablespoon of white acrylic paint (or any colour to tint it)
A bowl and a fork
A glass jar with a tight lid for storing
How to Do It
Pour the water into a bowl, then add the glue. That's 2 parts water to 1 part glue.
Whisk them together really well with a fork.
Slowly add cornstarch or baby powder, whisking as you go, until it's the consistency of pancake batter. There's no exact amount, so just go slowly.
Stir in 1 tablespoon of white acrylic paint.
Brush two smooth coats onto your project, letting it dry between coats. Sand lightly between coats if you need to.
Store any leftovers in an airtight jar.
My Best Tips
No plaster of Paris needed. Cornstarch and baby powder both work and are easy to find.
Tint it by using coloured acrylic paint instead of white.
Use it on almost anything, just like a primer.
Label your jar with a quick packing tape transfer so you know what's inside.
Love making your own supplies? Try my DIY chalk paint and paper mache paste. Members of Our Upcycled Society get all my DIY recipe booklets, plus my graphics library with new designs every week 💛
If you give it a try, I'd love to see how it turns out! Tag me @OurUpcycledLife on social media. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful creations. 💕 Until next time, happy crafting!
