gesso backgrounds

 

I love making my own background papers and this is messy, fun and results in interesting papers.   Gesso is used to create texture.  Sponging paints on top of it gives real interest to a simple technique. 

Materials & Tools
Paper
Gesso
Acrylic Paint
Brush
Sponge
Water container
Protected surface

Step 1
Tear your paper to the right size.  (Watercolour paper is great for this, but any thick paper will do.  Here I’m using wallpaper lining paper.)  Tearing gives a more interesting edge; if the edge isn't important then you can cut the paper with a knife or scissors. 

Step 2
Grab your brush and apply the gesso.  Don’t be neat: slap it on and daub at it with your brush.  The name of the game is texture, so go at it with the fearlessness of a five year old! 

Let it dry.  Having A good way to achieve this is to gesso a load of paper before you go to bed.  That way they’ll be dry in the morning. 

Step 3
Wet your sponge and wring it out so it’s barely damp. Squirt a bit of paint on your protective sheet.  This should be your lightest colour. 

Step 4
Use the sponge to apply your paint to the paper.  If it doesn't flow easily, add a little water.  If you don't cover the whole surface, that doesn't matter, but try to cover most of it.  In this picture, I still have a little work to do!

Step 5 
Apply more colours; no need to let the paint dry or even clean your sponge.  If you rub hard, you’ll take the paint off.  This isn’t a problem, simply dab on some more paint.  The sponge makes it easy to blend the paints and to fade them out rather than having harsh lines. 

Variations
Add a wash of metallic paint to give your paper a beautiful shimmer. 

Or just use metallic paint. 

One colour can look beautiful. 

Contrasting colours look great, but don’t create mud. 

Stamp into the gesso before it dries.  Make sure to clean the gesso off the stamp before it has a chance to dry. 

A plastic fork, or almost anything else, can create a wonderful texture. 

Tearing the paper after it’s been painted will reveal the colour of the paper.  You can use this to good effect.