The Old Fashioned Way - Part I
I thought it would be interesting to write a short series of articles, each focusing on an old fashioned technique that is not used so much today because of advances in the field of oil painting.
When in college studying studio art, I learned of a sizing technique that the masters used before priming canvas, wood and paper a long time ago. Size is a glue barrier that prohibits the ground and paint from contact with and penetration into the surface material, and the most popular size has always been rabbit skin glue. However, with the rising popularity of ready-made acrylic gesso, sizing the painting surface with rabbit skin glue is becoming less practiced because of its complex preparation. Instead, pre-mixed acrylic gesso readily available in art stores has become the obvious replacement for an otherwise lengthy process of sizing and priming a canvas. Furthermore, acrylic gesso and rabbit skin glue are not compatible, so it is not an option to size with the glue and then prime with the easier ready-made gesso. If using rabbit skin glue as a size, then another process is required in preparing an appropriate primer to apply over the glue.
There are some artists who firmly believe, despite the complexity of the preparation, in the necessity of sizing and priming a canvas before applying oils. The same artists also believe that acrylic gesso does not provide an adequate amount of protection between the oil and painting surface, because gesso is naturally porous whereas a surface that is both sized and primed is completely impermeable. It is true that in this age where quick efficiency is considered better, that we may not be giving enough credit to the old fashioned methods. Perhaps we will learn the hard way that acrylic gesso will not prove to stand up as well as its predecessor. Or, maybe it will.
My suggestion to all artists is to try both methods and decide which one suits your needs. Nonetheless, it is nice to pass on this information on old sizing and priming techniques to fellow oil painters. Nostalgic folks might want to experience the old ways of our predecessors.
Rabbit skin glue can be purchased in granular/powder form from a good art supply store, like Pearl Paint. Here below are instructions to prepare the Glue:
Use about 1 1/2 tablespoons of glue per 1 cup of water. Mix gently and then let set at room temperature over night to absorb water.
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