I’m afraid I have no expertise with watercolor varnishes. I’m sure with some careful internet searching, you can find better answers than I could give you.

Thanks!

The glue in the gesso and the glue on the back do the same thing, in different directions. Let each layer become dry to the touch before applying the next. Some people just put the same number of layers of gesso on the back as on the front. If you have trouble with warping, you might find that to be a simpler solution, since you don’t have to make guesses about how many glue layers will counteract how many gesso layers.

Since glue is cheap, I tend to just guess how much I might need and make a bit more than that. I’ve never measured how much glue covers how many panels, so I can’t quite help you there.

It sounded like you were making one very long narrow panel. Instead, you are cutting that up, which makes more sense.

Ok so put four layers of glue to the backs first? Do I let each layer dry for 30 minutes first ? wouldn’t the boards bow after putting four layers, or will the gesso fix (counteract) that?

So about two cups? i wont be gessoing the whole 11X11 panel, i will be cutting them up smaller like 6inch X 12inch(some larger)
but my total amount of wood is 10 feet.

By narrow do you mean long? cause my board are about an inch thick(normal plank) Thanks again for your time & expertise!!

–Mario

“Sizing” is another word for “hide glue.” I have not found it necessary to alternate layers, but instead just put some layers of glue on the back prior to gessoing the front. Your mileage may vary.

A 10 foot by 10 inch panel? Not sure. My guess is that one cup would not suffice. With a panel that narrow, you’re going to need to do some kind of bracing or cradling to avoid warping.

David Wrote:

“Brush the glue over the front, back, and sides of the panel. Give it a half hour to dry.

I generally add more layers of glue to the back. The reason is that the glue in the gesso on the front will be applying force to the panel. If the panel is large, this will noticeably warp the panel. So I generally add about four layers of glue to the back in order to counteract the warping effect that the gesso will apply to the front. This seems to help a lot.”

Hey David great post!

I was wondering after letting the Sizing (front n back) dry, do i add four layers of Glue to the back, letting each layer(on the back only) dry before applying the next?

–That would probably warp it right?

Or after the Sizing do i add a layer of Glue (to the back) after applying the First layer of Gesso to the front(and letting that dry first)??

so every layer of gesso on the front i would need to apply glue after to the back, untill ive reached four layers (aside from the layer applyed in SIZING?)

Then Repeat… TIMES X4?

Also how much Glue will i need to Gesso a ((10-FEET X 10-INCH)) sugar pine panel? about two cups or will one do it? i would probably be putting 8 layers.

Thanks alot for your help man, i really appreciate it! i tryed this last time & it was really good gesso, but my all my boards warped really bad.. I’ve e-mailed other artists but none have got back to me… THANKS again for the help.

–Mario

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