Pébéo Single-Coat Gesso - 500 ml

Pébéo Single-Coat Gesso 500 ml is a universal white matte primer. One coat is enough. It prepares canvas, wood and cardboard for acrylic, oil and gouache paints.

Gesso is the white primer applied before painting on raw canvas, wooden panels or cardboard. Many beginners skip this step and paint directly on the surface. Yet this step greatly affects the final result.

It has three essential properties:

• It helps paint adhere. On an untreated surface, paint does not stick well: it flakes, peels or rubs off. Gesso creates a surface that acrylic, oil and gouache paints stick to firmly.
• It stops the surface from absorbing your paint. Raw canvas or bare wood soaks up paint, forcing you to apply two or three coats for an even finish. This wastes paint and dulls colours when dry. A primed surface shows true colour intensity from the first coat.
• It protects the surface. Oil paint can damage canvas fibres over time, making them brittle. Gesso acts as a barrier. That’s why no oil painter works on unprimed canvas.

Single-coat: just one layer needed!

This formula covers well enough to require only one coat, unlike standard gesso which needs two to three coats with drying and light sanding between each. You can prepare your surfaces in one go and paint the same day.

FAQ:

How to apply? Use a wide brush or roller to spread an even layer. For a perfectly smooth surface, cross the strokes and lightly sand with fine abrasive paper once dry.

Can it cover an old canvas? Yes, this is common practice. One or two coats of gesso erase previous work and renew the surface.

Can it be diluted? Yes, with a little water for a smoother application. Don’t overdo it: too much water reduces coverage and barrier effect.

How to clean tools? Wash immediately with water. Once dry, gesso becomes insoluble like acrylic paint.

Can it be tinted? Yes, mix in some acrylic paint to create a coloured base. This is often done to start on a toned ground instead of pure white.