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Koo Schadler has shared with us how to achieve the "piano key" smooth surface that some professionals want on True Gesso panels: Finishing Your Gesso Panel
True Gesso panels are a wonderful surface for oil paintings. Here is the scoop on how to prepare
the panel for oil:
Supplies needed: Double Boiler with Stainless Steel Bowl, Distilled Water, Rabbit Skin Glue, Application Brush and Prepared True Gesso Panel.
The proportion of rabbit skin glue to water is 1 tablespoon of glue to 1.5 to 2 cups of water.
How to Prepare Rabbit Skin Glue:
1. Heat water in a stainless steel double boiler until slightly too hot to touch. Do not boil.
2. Gradually add rabbit skin glue until dissolved. Too much glue will create a brittle surface and too little glue will not protect the panel surface from the oil in the paint. It will have a milky appearance.
3. Remove from heat. DO NOT let it boil as this will ruin the glue!
4. Brush warm glue evenly onto the panel and allow each coat to dry before applying the next layer. The panel typically needs 2 to 3 coats, depending on artist's preference.
This article explains why we believe it is important to use premium "untempered hardboard" for our gesso panels: Hardboard
This article explains the history of Masonite: Masonite is Discontinued
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