Sample gesso card with layers

The back sheet is gesso with a stamped image right on top. The top layers are smooth gesso with stamped image on top and inked with color blocks. All coated with liquitex high gloss varnish.

Stamping on gesso

For this exercise I used brushed gesso, I brushed it on heavily so it can easily be seen.

I stamped my image right into the gesso. The pressure I apply determines what the stamped image looks like. The top row is with a light stamp and bottom with heavy pressure.

Let dry, I leave it over night, but depending on the thickness will depend on length to dry.  I used ink to add a layer of pigment.  I can add more pigment or use a damp cloth to remove it.

Here is a sample of stamping in gesso.

Adding ink onto the gesso dried paper

Normally I use a couple of colors and blend them, but you are only limited by your imagination.  I will use several products that are common in our group.

2 sprays

I spread it with a baby wipe

The more I rub with a baby wipe the more the ink moves.  This works with all water soluable inks.

1 or 2 sprays

Spread with a baby wipe

I removed some ink in the center of this color by letting it dry and then rubbing it lightly with a baby wipe. 

Cheap water colors

Just keep dipping brush in water and paint and adding it.

I just added the distress ink with the blending tool 

Here you can see all patches together. The light blue and pink in the center is crayola markers, but my kid took them so I could not photo them. At this point I left left an area white.  I applied a water wash. Means I took a wet towl and wiped my paper back and forth, up and down and then at an angle.

** to use crayola markers I just mark up the baby wipe with the marker and add it.

Here is a close up after the water wash.  

This ink and paint is water soluable so there is no longer a white area.  When you are done with your paper let it dry. You can add, change or enhance it when it is completely dry. 

Using gesso to take stamp image

Ever have a stamp that would be great in the back ground?  You can stamp into gesso.

Mixed media paper, foam brush gesso, stamp.

I just added a pile to the paper as this is a quick sample, normally I would use a bowl to get the most of of my gesso.

I stamped the stamp onto the spread out gesso. Oops! Dropped the stamp.

Since the gesso is wet I just painted it off to start over.

Re stamped it

Wash the stamp when done.  You can cut the paper to smaller sizes to use. I prefer to use a stamp that is mounted as it makes a cleaner print, as it is easier to pick up.  This cleans up very nicely.  You can do this with a thin layer or thick layer of gesso, but if you want real texture thicker is better, if you are looking for accents thin layer.

Using gesso to make texture.

I get asked often how I make my papers or what I used for the background, etc. so this will be a quick example of how I get the feel and texture for my cards.

I am using acrylic gesso for this.  I put down a protective coat of paper and have a container with water in it. Now I am ready.

I will be using mix media paper for this. 

I put gesso in my little bowl and use a flat brush .

I am dry brushing it on here

Once I dry brushed it in I dipped my brush in water and went over it again. Smooths out the strokes.

Now the fun part. This is an old brush that my kiddo got ahold of one day and took outside in the sandbox. I washed it and kept it for this kind of project.

Here is a pile of random objects to use for texture. As I use them I place in water container.  The gesso will wash off.

Lay the stencil down (if you choose to use a stencil).

My preference is to dip brush in water and apply it over the stencil.

I added a bit of ink to the stencil so it is easier to see (it normally is white) you can see the marks that the stencilt extrude makes.

You can do the entire sheet with one stencil or just here and there.

Here I look my brush added some gesso to use other "tools".

Making wave marks with the bottom of a sample lotion tube,

Y

Any object that makes a texture works great.  

Even a Popsicle stick can be used to add texture.  Your imagination is the limit.

Texture has been made using many different tools.  At this point it needs to dry.

Drying 

The leftover gesso in the container is used to do another light texture with just a brush and a quick dip in the water bucket.  

Both sheets need to dry completely before adding ink, paint, markers, watercolors.