They are good ones! Nancy. There are products called “Clear Gesso” but that is misleading in my mind. I will also add my signature on the back too. (2) Lay the panel flat on a table, propping it up several inches on all four corners with jars, wood props, etc to allow for wiping away any drips, and ease of application. Shop from top brands like Gamblin, Williamburg, Winsor and Newton and more. I already have a commercial linseed oil, so would that be a good option or would you recommend something different? This will make the painting all glossy so that the final top coat of varnish that goes on next, will sit evenly on top. Sealers are usually clear. I applied rather thin, normal coats, nothing too thick. Another consideration is the back of the painting. Hi Daniel, Sounds like fun working on a project together with your daughter. You can use it on canvas, paper, and wood. Is spray or paint on easier for beginners please? The decision to skip an important step like priming really depends on your surface and the quality (consistency, dilution, application, etc) of your first paint layer. You need to apply what’s called an “isolation coat”. I don’t know what is available in Australia for sealers – but any gloss acrylic will work to seal the raw wood. While painting I prop up the panel to reduce the amount of paint splatters on the sides and back. The gesso Michael’s house brand. See if anyone working there can find a topcoat product with UV protection to keep your colors from fading outdoors in the sun. If you don’t use water you will be missing out on ways to make the acrylic act and appear like watercolor. I’m encouraged by the results in the last two days and I think you hit it on the nail when you said it could be environmental. I know you provided a link to follow for outdoor projects but that page seems to be geared towards painting on masonry or the sides of buildings which isn’t really the type of surface I plan to paint on. Or check out this great opportunity to better your painting today! Just to clarify, I’ll be painting on wood panels (birch) for fine art purposes that will be on display inside – not for furniture or outdoor use etc. SPONSORED ... antique wood gesso frame + bonus for free: vintage oil painting on wood panel. Also, any tone or imprimatura applied to the surface of the gesso must be the fastest drying layer in the oil paint film, so let it dry thoroughly before painting over it. Hope this helps! Avoid coating an old oil painting with acrylic gesso since it will peel or crack. Follow my instructions in this article for preparation of the wood. Gesso is a paintable compound used to prime surfaces, expecially canvasses, prior to painting. Once dry I flip my painting over onto foam to protect it, and touch up the sides and back with more gesso in case paint got splattered on them. I am not familiar with Modge Podge or Frank T Ross. By sealing the wood with something that is glossy you keep moisture from entering the wood. Hi Amethyst, Also, as for a good gloss varnish, would a resin be the best which would give me heat protection for my placemats? Its absorbency makes it work with all painting media, including water-based media, different types of … Shop Now. My question is this; would I still follow the directions above if my project will be outside and exposed to the elements? It kind of has a white dusty kind of look. How would I go about it from the preparing the wood and to the sealing of it at the end? I know these are a lot of questions but you are obviously a wealth of knowledge and I hope you can answer them for me. But happy . Sealing (sometimes called sizing) reduces chances for the wood to warp due to shifts in humidity, and therefore adds an important archival process to your artwork regardless of which painting medium you choose. Artists Materials - Gesso Grounds from Ancient Recipes - Natural Pigments Learning from artists manuscripts, a contemporary artist adapts a 15th century recipe for preparing grounds for oil painting on wood panels. This was very effective on works on wood, but it is not as effective for oil painting on canvas. Second, I thought I may have applied too thick a second coat, but I know I applied as thin a coat as possible. It will sink into the wood but won’t keep out moisture – which is the main purpose of a sealer.