More on the New Board

Rick Taylor wrote suggesting that I use GAC400 as a sealer and then use clear gesso for a painting surface for my wood board experiment.  He commented that the clear gesso deposits quite a "tooth".  So, into the old inventory I dove.  I came up with an old GAC400 and a container of PVA Size.  Both unused.  A sign of a sinister habit.  

Left Board, Right Board

I tried one coat for a seal.  The GAC400 made the wood fibres stand up, the PVA not nearly so much.  So the PVA Size dried smoother.  I labelled the back of each board.  By the way I sealed on the reverse to reduce future warpage on the 1/8 baltic birch plywood boards.

The I applied two coats of the clear gesso.  It is a milky looking material and it says on the container that it dries "translucent".  I sanded a portion of one side of the panels to smooth them out a bit for comparison.

As Dried, Same Light, "Translucent"?

So we headed to the Hockley to test the boards.  Of course you have to do that outside!

Easel and Palette in the Shade

I started to lay in the plane constructions in a thin Ultramarine and Transparent red Oxide mixture using a hogs bristle brush.  First impressions - Rick is right, the tooth is significant, and the surface sucks the paint in.  I normally paint on a fast surface on an oil primed ground.   Here the tooth comes from either the canvas or the brush marks from the ground application and the tooth is not scratchy sharp.  The experimental arrangement however, played hell on my brushes.  But I had to carry out the test to completion.

Some Paint Applied

It sure holds paint.  Somewhat like putting pastels on sandpaper.  You can no doubt use pastels on this surface.  I tended not to go from thin to thick in gradual steps.  The thin paint sucks in and doesn't flow as it does on my oil ground.  Here I just started to load on the paint.  I made a quick second test start.

PVA Size Version

This version also seemed to suck up the paint.  Then I wiped it off, and most of it disappeared.  So, I am not sure if the size or the GAC400 sealed the wood and the gesso is absorbing the paint or just what is happening.  So, I have more experimental design to do.  

I started to use gel with the paint to smoothen out the feel of the paint application.  It is a saw off.  The sanded sections seem pretty much the same.

More Paint 

I had a look at the painting this morning.  To my surprise, it did not sink in and dull like I anticipated.  The thick paint is still thick, and the thin passages are not bad.  Please note that I did have 3 coats of paint on the thin areas.  Stay tuned on this one.