Grounds For Painting
Artists use various grounds (primers) like traditional gesso (chalk/glue), modern acrylic gesso, or oil grounds, and even texture pastes, to prepare surfaces (canvas, wood, paper) for painting, affecting paint handling, absorption, tooth (texture), color vibrancy, and archival quality; grounds can be smooth for detail or textured, absorbent or non-absorbent, and colored to set mood and harmonize hues, influencing the final artwork's
Types of Grounds
Traditional Gesso: A mixture of animal glue (size) and chalk (calcium sulfate), creating a lean, absorbent surface, often used on panels.
Acrylic Gesso: The modern standard, made from acrylic polymer, white pigment (like Titanium White), and fillers, offering fast drying, flexibility, and good adhesion, but can be glossy.
Oil Ground: Historically, lead-based (now avoided), modern versions use alkyd resins for a smooth, non-absorbent, durable, bright foundation, ideal for oil paints.
Colored Grounds: White grounds tinted with pigments (ochre, umber, blue) or using colored acrylics/pastes to establish an immediate tone, mood, and vibrancy, reducing the intimidation of a blank white canvas.
Textural Grounds: Achieved with modeling paste, fiber paste, or even mixed media (sand, sawdust) for tactile, non-flat surfaces that grab paint and add dimension.
Functions of Grounds
Surface Preparation: Seals porous supports (canvas, wood) to prevent paint absorption and protect fibers from oil, making the work archival.
Adhesion: Provides "tooth" or texture for paint to grip, ensuring strong bonding.
Paint Handling: Affects how paint moves; absorbent grounds make paint sink in (desaturated), while non-absorbent ones allow paint to sit on top, affecting fluidity and drying time.
Aesthetics: Influences color appearance (e.g., a toned ground can add warmth or coolness) and can establish an underpainting or mood.
Choosing the Right Ground
For Acrylics: Acrylic gesso is standard; various acrylic mediums and pastes can be added to create unique grounds.
For Oils: Oil grounds (alkyd-based) offer a slick, traditional feel; acrylic gesso can be used, but oil grounds are preferred for oil painting's archival nature.
Texture: Smooth surfaces for fine detail (oil ground); textured for brushwork and grabbing paint (acrylic gesso, pastes).
Mood: Use colored grounds (yellow ochre for warmth, grey for coolness) or textural grounds for creative effects.
