How To Make Gesso

Learn to Make, Apply, & Sand Traditional Gesso!

December 2, 9, 16 (Once a Week for 3 Weeks)

4pm- 5:30pm PST

700pm - 8:30pm EST

(Adjust for Local Time Zone and Daylight Savings Time Changes)

**All Classes Are Live Online And Backup Recorded, Perfect If You Need To Miss A Class!

CLASS SIZE LIMIT: 10

ALL LEVELS WELCOME!

*Note: Daylight Savings Time:

Nov. 2, 2025 (Clocks Go Back 1 Hour)

All Levels Welcome!

CANCELLATION POLICY: Please Read Below at the bottom of the page.

Gesso, the essential foundation for Traditional Water Gilding is the required ground for Water Gilded Frames, Furniture, and Panels and is the traditional Support for Egg Tempera painting and Iconography. It can also serve as a ground for oil gilding and other painted finishes and to fill the grain for any carved wooden object.

This special 3-part Masterclass Tutorial explores the detais of this ancient method of making and applying traditional gesso made of rabbit skin glue, calcium carbonate, and water.

• Session I We focus solely on preparing gesso combining the 10 percent glue solution and calcium carbonate. Fabric applied to a Panel will also be demonstated as well as Fabric to a Frame Corner Sample traditionally used to minimize any possible occurance of crack mechanisms in the gesso.

• Session 2 We apply the gesso to a panel and Frame corner with a precise demonstration of brush application and using our hands to help minimize and prevent pinholes.

• Session 3 Our focus is properly Sanding the Gesso with a variety of grades of sandpaper and using powdered bole as a guide while exploring Water Polishing for smoothing gesso as an occasional alternative to sanding.

All student levels are welcome including beginners as well as those who have attended the Traditional Water Gilding classes along with those who are familiar with gilding but wish to explore this very stable Old English method of Hard and Soft gesso. ~

* All gilding classes are Live on Zoom and recorded for viewing by students and remains accessible for six months after the Series ends. A Question/Answer period takes place at the end of the session. ~

A Materials list will be provided upon Registration.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Although No Refunds are available, a Full Credit to Any Future Available Class of equal or lesser value will be provided if you need to cancel. Or if you prefer, you may receive the full Recording Series from the class you joined or from a previously recorded series of your online class. Go Here to View the Complete Cancellation Policy.