Make Your DIY Gesso and Homemade Glue

Out of one of these and you need it now? You can DIY it

I had this recipe on my website, 3amGallery.com for probably 10+ years but that site is essentially a billboard now and I am moving my instructional posts over here and updating them.

I had to take a journey this morning that I didn’t plan on. I went to start a canvas, as usual. The first step is to coat it in gesso. And my awesome tub of Bob Ross Gesso had turned into weird, gelatinous marshmallows that smelled like a Satan fart.

I actually did try to use and it basically smeared marshmallow-like lumps on my canvas. I like a little texture but this is ridiculous. So, I want to paint on this canvas before the idea and inspiration are gone.

Next stop: the Internet and found several ways to make it.

Glue and baby powder

My first attempt using glue and baby powder as in another online gesso recipe was a total disaster. The baby powder is way too assertive texture-wise.

FAIL.

Chalk Based Gesso

You need chalk, water, acrylic gloss medium, white acrylic paint

Get about 10 sticks of white chalk

Put juuuuuust enough water on it to make a paste

Pour small amounts of acrylic gloss medium over the paste

Add a little white paint to brighten it up (mine turned gray).

This was "okay" but I didn't like the texture and it got a little bit flaky on my canvas when it dried. I am including it because maybe it will turn out better for you than for me.

Corn starch, Baking soda, and glue

1 part white glue (if you don’t have any on hand you can make your own recipe for that below)

2-3 parts water

3 parts cornstarch

3 parts baking soda

A bit of acrylic paint (Optional – will change the color of your gesso, or add white if you want it brighter/better coverage)

You can use this recipe for any amount of gesso you need, just change the measurement for the parts. For example, if you need a ton of gesso, use 1 cup white glue, 2-3 cups water, etc. For a small amount, use teaspoons or tablespoons.

How cool is that? I am here to say this makes a nice, smooth gesso and the nice thing is I can just make what I need for the week and keep it in a large, glass jar. You can keep it a little longer in the fridge.

Make Your Own Glue

There are many natural glue recipes hanging around but this is the one I happen to like and it only has four ingredients. Works for paper, wood, or almost any porous surface.

You will need:

1 cup Water

1 cup Flour

1/3 cup Sugar

1 teaspoon White vinegar (per cup of flour used)

Get a small saucepan and mix the flour and sugar together.

Stir constantly over the lowest heat, and add half the water.

Slowly add water and stir until the consistency is smooth.

When the mixture begins to thicken, add the vinegar.

Remove from the heat and transfer to a Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. Use within a few days or refrigerate to extend the shelf life of your glue. Mine has never lasted longer than a month because I use it all up but it was fine.

Two things:

This glue takes more time to dry however it is very strong once completely dried.

If you dislike the smell of vinegar as I do, you can add a few drops of your favorite (real!) essential oil to the glue to make smell wonderful. If you use dark oil, it will affect the color of your glue.