Gesso primer

[Spartacus]

No apologies for posting this on the Renaissance forum after putting it on the Ancient one.

I know a few guys here already use this but I have to add my tuppenceworth too.

I bought a couple of pots of Winsor & Newton Black and White Gesso primer and this morning did a few 15mm figures with it.

I am so impressed with it`s flat and matt properties that I have to extol it`s virtues here. Firstly it will cost next to nothing to prime your figures as all the paint goes on the figure and not into the atmosphere.

I used it straight from the pot and although it scared me to see the thickness it actually all dried out better than any spraycan.
It rules out buying coloured primers as you can mix it with any acrylic paint to get any colour primer you want.

It takes a little longer to dry out and you will probably find that you have missed a few spots so have to redo them, I think probably due to air bubbles in the original application.

I have already thrown out my spraycans. No more Black fingers and waiting for a good day with no wind. OK, I have yet to paint on it but I just know it is going to be good. The detail left visible is astounding and surely going to be easier to see to paint. I would maybe add that you don`t want to go handling your figures prior to painting but if you use painting sprues as I do that won`t be a problem anyway.

[Blathergut]

I have been using Liquitex (black) gesso as a primer. Gives an excellent surface for painting.

[Spartacus]

So glad to hear that Blather, I intend to apply paint tomorrow night and see if it is as good as it looks.

Thanks for your input.

[deadtorius]

Years ago I used Gesso for primer on soft plastics, as long as you dont put it on too thick it will dry quite quickly. Paint adheres to it well, I used artist acrylics then and still do to this day, and the figs came out very nicely. One of the benefits is that gesso like acrylic paints is flexible when dry so it will bend with the plastic and not chip off like the enamels. I found a thin coat put on with a wide brush with thicker bristles worked well, I used to use a nice cheap dollar store one back in those days.
I think you will be happy with the results.

[MatthewP]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for this I am looking for a new primer. I can find references to Winsor & Newton White primer and Clear primer on the interweb, but not black. Do you use clear and then mix it with black acrylic?

Matthew

[Spartacus]

Hi Matthew.

I bought Black and White on Amazon UK. Are you in UK? I can PM you with a link if you are?

[MatthewP]

I am in the UK and still cant find it on amazon so the link would be good please.

How do you decide whether to use white or black primer. I have so far always used black.

[kevinj]

Black or white is really a matter of personal preference. I will use white if I'm looking to spend some time on the figures as I find it easier to work on paler colours. Sometimes I'll use a black wash over the white to pick out the details.

For fast painting (where I just block out the basic colours and then apply a coloured varnish to add shading) I'll use black on people because then any bits that get missed don't show up so badly (or get written off as extra shading ), but i still use white on horses and then paint the basic horse colour with a thinned coat of paint which leaves the raised part paler and provides a shading effect.

[MatthewP]

I'll use black on people because then any bits that get missed don't show up so badly

I have to admit this is why I prime in black. Covers a multitude of sins.

[Spartacus]

Matthew just do a search on Amazon for Winsor and Newton galeria gesso primer and you should see them there.

[MatthewP]

Cheers Terry will have a look.

[shadowdragon]

No apologies for posting this on the Renaissance forum after putting it on the Ancient one.

I know a few guys here already use this but I have to add my tuppenceworth too.

I bought a couple of pots of Winsor & Newton Black and White Gesso primer and this morning did a few 15mm figures with it.

I am so impressed with it`s flat and matt properties that I have to extol it`s virtues here. Firstly it will cost next to nothing to prime your figures as all the paint goes on the figure and not into the atmosphere.

I used it straight from the pot and although it scared me to see the thickness it actually all dried out better than any spraycan.
It rules out buying coloured primers as you can mix it with any acrylic paint to get any colour primer you want.

It takes a little longer to dry out and you will probably find that you have missed a few spots so have to redo them, I think probably due to air bubbles in the original application.

I have already thrown out my spraycans. No more Black fingers and waiting for a good day with no wind. OK, I have yet to paint on it but I just know it is going to be good. The detail left visible is astounding and surely going to be easier to see to paint. I would maybe add that you don`t want to go handling your figures prior to painting but if you use painting sprues as I do that won`t be a problem anyway.

Hmmmm.....that's interesting as I've been using Gesso for a long time as I've been used to it from using it for art. I thought nobody else did. I use white Gesso and then apply either a black base (modern and medieval knights with lots of armour) or burnt umber (everything else). I like burnt umber because it's instant shadow for the flesh parts....but then I like burnt umber (vice indigo blue) for shading in paintings. Just a warm guy, I guess....but only in the shade.

[Skullzgrinda]

Hi Terry,

Thanks for this I am looking for a new primer. I can find references to Winsor & Newton White primer and Clear primer on the interweb, but not black. Do you use clear and then mix it with black acrylic?

Matthew

It comes in black, which is actually a softer, charcoal gray.