Gamblin Ground 8oz - Oil Primer

Primer

To be honest I still have to work with this product but I believe it’s is eay better than the cheap brand with lumps and all I used previous

Gamblin Ground alkyd primer - best of its kind

For years I have been preparing stretched linen canvases with rabbitskin glue sizing followed by two coats of Gamblin Ground alkyd primer. It is my go-to prep. Yes, I have tried alternative preparations: linseed oil primer (with titanium white and with lead white), as well as acrylic gesso - but no other primer provides the combined advantages of low toxicity, quick drying time, and a resilient, non-absorbent surface for oil painting. The toxicity of lead requires too many accommodations for my taste. The linseed oil vehicle takes too long to dry between coats and to cure before painting. And acrylic gesso is.... well, it's plastic, and I have no interest in painting on plastic. The Gamblin Ground comes thick and is easier to handle if thinned with Gamsol (or OMS) to a consistency of pancake batter. I apply with a large spatula-shaped knife and scrape it then, then lightly caress the surface with a stiff bristle brush to smooth it out. Second coat goes on the next day. The finished surface is beautiful, and allows the weave of the linen to shine through. When you re-close the can, be sure to use the paper topping to cover the surface, otherwise it will skin. This product is highly recommended - and I have not found it cheaper anywhere else. !