Liquitex Black Gesso
Liquitex - Professional Gesso Surface Prep Medium (Black)
(image from Amazon)
Quick Specs 🏷️
Type: Black Gesso Surface Prep Medium (Acrylic primer)
Size: 8 fl oz (237 ml) bottle
Finish: Matte, opaque black
Purchase Info: Link | Purchased: Mar 2026 | Price: $16.99 USD
Official Product Highlights
- Premium pigmented black gesso - used to prepare painting surfaces for acrylic and oil paint with a deep black ground.
- Dries to a matte, water-resistant, non-yellowing surface - provides excellent tooth for paint adhesion.
- Fluid nature - can be used to reduce viscosity of heavier paints and gels.
- Intermixable - can be mixed with Liquitex Professional Acrylic Paint Colors and Mediums to create custom colors or textures.
- Non-toxic - conforms to ASTM D4236, safe for educational use.
- Versatile application - works on canvas, paper, wood, and other porous surfaces.
Additional Specs
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Consistency | Fluid, creamy (can be thinned with water or acrylic medium) |
| Drying Time | Fast-drying (minutes to touch; recoat in 1-2 hours) |
| Opacity | Opaque black |
| Water Resistance | Water-resistant when dry |
| Application Tools | Brush, palette knife, roller |
| Compatible Surfaces | Canvas, paper, wood, plaster, unprimed surfaces |
| Compatible Media | Acrylic paint, oil paint, pastels, charcoal (must be fully dry before oil application) |
| Texture | Matte with tooth (can be sanded between coats for smoothness) |
Best Uses
- Priming canvas, paper, or wood with a black ground for dramatic, high-contrast paintings
- Creating a dark base that allows lighter colors to pop (underpainting for night scenes, abstracts, or galaxy art)
- Sealing and preparing porous surfaces before painting
- Tinting with acrylic color for custom-colored dark grounds
- Mixed media work where a dark, uniform primer is desired
Overall Strengths & Weaknesses
Rating: 4.6 ★★★★★
What works well
- Very strong black color, deep.
- Covers paper really well, very opaque.
- Tends to dry smoother than other gessoes.
- Doesn’t warp paper once dry.
What doesn't
- Can eat up color when trying to mix. Very strong color.
Tips
- Apply carefully as it can seal pages if it get’s between them.