Make Your Own Gesso: Or is store-bought better?
In my Canvas Prep class, I talk a lot about one thing that often gets overlooked: your surface affects everything that comes after.
The most common way to prepare a surface is with gesso, but do you really need to buy it from the art store every time? Or can you make perfectly workable versions yourself, using materials you probably already have at home?
In this tutorial, I break down:
What gesso actually is,
What it does for your painting surface,
Three different DIY Gesso recipes, each suited for a different purpose.
This is not about finding the perfect recipe. It’s about understanding what you need for your process and choosing accordingly.
What is gesso, really?
At its core, gesso is surprisingly simple. It’s made of three components:
A filler. This gives body and texture (also called “tooth”) so paint can grip the surface.
A binder. This helps the gesso stick to the surface and seals what’s underneath.
A pigment. Usually white, but it doesn’t have to be. Tinting gesso is one of my favorite tricks.
What gesso does:
gives your surface tooth,
reduces suction (especially on canvas and paper),
protects what’s underneath,
helps paint glide more smoothly,
and can even make colors appear brighter and more even.
Think of it as a primer for artists.
Why not just use white acrylic paint?
This is a question I get a lot, and it makes sense.
White acrylic paint looks similar, but:
• It’s usually more expensive than gesso,
• It doesn’t have enough tooth on its own,
• It doesn’t seal the surface in the same way.
You can paint your surface white with acrylics, and it won’t instantly fall apart. But gesso is built for prep: it seals, reduces suction, and gives your next layers more grip, and it’s usually cheaper than using your good paint as a primer.
The 3 DIY gesso recipes
Each of these recipes has a different purpose. None of them is “wrong” or "the right one". They’re just meant for different situations.
1. The quick & simple journal gesso
Best for: sketchbooks, art journals, personal work
Not ideal for: selling work or long-term durability
Materials
Roughly:
1 tbsp Baby powder, cornstarch, or calcium carbonate
1 tbsp PVA glue (school glue works perfectly fine)
± ½ tbsp Water
± ½ tbsp Acrylic paint (white or tinted)
How to make it
Put the ingredients in a cup
Stir until it reaches a pancake batter consistency.
This version is fast, accessible, and great if you just want to get started. It gives tooth and seals the surface, but it’s not archival.
2. The house paint version
Best for: studies, large surfaces, gifts, experimental work
Why it works: house paint already contains a binder
Materials
1 tbsp White (or light-colored) house paint
± ½ tbsp Chalk (paint maker’s chalk or hardware store chalk)
Water (if needed)
How to make it
Stir the house paint well.
Put the house paint in a cup.
Add chalk to create tooth (about half the amount of paint).
Adjust with a little water if it becomes too thick.
House paint seals the surface well, but on its own, it lacks tooth; that’s why the chalk matters.
This version won’t last for centuries, but it can easily last a lifetime, which is more than enough for most artists.
Fun fact: many well-known artworks actually started with house paint as a base layer, and I sometimes do so too.
3. The “almost real” gesso
Best for: paintings you want to last longer, more professional results
Closest to: store-bought gesso
Materials
1 tbsp Chalk (preferably paint maker’s chalk)
1/2 tbsp Water (to activate the chalk)
1 tbsp Acrylic medium (matte medium or acrylic binder)
Acrylic paint (for pigment)
How to make it
Mix the ingredients together. eyeball the acrylic paint for color.
This version behaves very similarly to store-bought gesso and is suitable for more serious work.
How to apply gesso (DIY or store-bought)
Apply with a brush or palette knife.
Use crossed layers (first horizontal, second vertical) for a smoother surface.
Want more texture? Use a dry brush or palette knife.
If it’s not opaque enough, simply add another layer, just like regular gesso.
And yes: gesso is for paper too, not just canvas or panels. Paper has suction as well, and gesso helps control it.
So… should you still buy gesso?
Honestly? Yes, sometimes. If you work professionally, store-bought gesso remains the most consistent and convenient option, especially when purchasing larger containers.
But:
DIY gesso is cheaper,
great for experimenting,
often more than good enough for journals, studies, gifts, and personal work.
What matters most is not the recipe, but knowing why you choose it.
What’s next?
Explore further
If you enjoyed this process, you’ll find more blog posts where I explore materials, surface prep, and playful experimentation. Always focused on process rather than perfection.
Try a variation
Experiment with tinted gesso, different fillers, or thicker textures. Small changes can completely shift how your paint behaves.
Reflect & continue
Notice how your paint reacts. Where does it flow? Where does it resist? Those details tell you a lot about what your surface needs.
Want guided practice?
If you’d like to go deeper into surface preparation, from texture building to understanding how each layer affects your painting, check out my Skillshare class Canvas Prep.
I walk you step-by-step through materials, techniques, and choices, so you can build surfaces that truly support your art process.
