Liquitex Clear Professional Gesso Surface Prep Medium 237ml — translucent, high-tooth primer for acrylics & mixed media

Liquitex Professional Clear Gesso Surface Prep Medium is a clear, high-tooth acrylic primer that seals surfaces and creates a receptive ground for acrylics, oils, pastels, and drawing media.

Whether you work on canvas, paper, wood, or unconventional supports, this clear gesso from Liquitex prepares and stabilizes the surface while preserving texture and appearance. It dries to a translucent, water-resistant finish and adds tooth for improved adhesion of pigment and drawing materials. Light in weight and non-toxic, the 237 ml (8 oz) bottle is designed for studio and educational use and mixes easily with Liquitex Professional colors to produce tinted grounds.

How does this clear gesso change surface texture and adhesion?

Clear gesso increases surface tooth so pigment and pastels grip more securely without hiding the surface underneath. It’s formulated to provide a reliable ground for both wet and dry media while remaining translucent enough to allow underlying textures or printed surfaces to show through.

• Creates a high-tooth finish ideal for pastel, charcoal, and oil pastel.
• Improves paint adhesion for acrylic and oil layers.
• Preserves underlying surface texture and details when applied thinly.

Can I tint or mix this medium with color?

Yes — mix a small amount of transparent or translucent Liquitex acrylic color into the clear gesso to make a subtle tinted ground. Tinted grounds control overall hue and value while maintaining the gesso’s tooth and translucency.

• Blend with Soft Body or Professional acrylics for custom tints.
• Maintain transparency by using only small amounts of color.
• Test mixtures on a sample piece to confirm desired tone and translucence.

Which surfaces is this primer suitable for and how should I apply it?

Use Liquitex Clear Gesso on any clean, porous, non-oily surface such as canvas, paper, board, or wood. Apply with a brush, roller, or foam pad in thin, even coats; a single coat often suffices for professional gesso, though heavier application increases tooth and opacity.

• Ideal for canvas, paper, wood panels, and mural substrates.
• Apply thin coats and allow drying between layers for best results.
• Dries to a water-resistant, non-yellowing finish suitable for later paint layers.

Is this product safe and compatible with other Liquitex materials?

Liquitex Clear Gesso conforms to ASTM D4236 and is non-toxic, making it appropriate for classrooms and home studios. It intermixes with Liquitex Professional acrylic paints and mediums, so you can build grounds and textures that integrate seamlessly with the rest of your workflow.

• Non-toxic and conforming to ASTM D4236 for educational safety.
• Intermixable with Liquitex Professional paints and mediums.
• Dries stable and non-yellowing for archival-ready support layers.

Who is this for? Artists, instructors, muralists, and craft makers who need a clear, toothy primer that preserves surface character will find this Liquitex clear gesso valuable. It's especially useful for creators who layer mixed media — combining drawing materials, acrylics, or oils — and for anyone wanting a translucent ground or a custom-tinted primer using professional acrylic colors.