Lascaux Primer/Smooth Surfaces

Luis Guerreiro of the UK turned me onto Lascuax Primer (acrylic based), and I just wanted to pass the word on about this wonderful product for those that are found of a slick and smooth painting surface.

I have prepared traditional gesso panels (hide glue/whiting on masonite) for some time for my egg tempera works, and have gotten very "addicted" to the final glass-like surface.

Unfortunately, traditonal gesso is very absorbent, which is great for egg tempera, but for oils I found it too absorbent for my tastes (goodbye oil for at least the first coat).

Lascsaux Primer goes on very smooth, and sands to a finish that is so close to traditional gesso that it's spooky. While this primer is technically an acrylic gesso, it really behaves (sands) much differently. I found it hard to get this smooth of a surface with traditional acrylic gessos, and even if I got them fairly smooth they still were "plasticy" (compared to my lucious traditional gesso panels anyway). Also, it seems to me that with regular acrylic gessos the coverage was very poor--I would apply many,many coats and still it would be hard to get an even smooth finish (I guess acrylic gesso is made to give some "tooth"). The coverage with Lascaux's Primer is intense, much more like traditional oil primers; a little goes a long way.

I have only used this Primer on Masonite so far, but I am sure (and am told) that it would work well on canvas or linen as well. If you're into smooth surfaces, Lascauz products are getting much more common in the USA, and I really think it's a great product. I applied it over the Laucaux acrylic sizing, which was also great; much more like Rabbit skin glue that the Gamblin PVA size I have used.

Also, I am told that Lascaux is a big supplier to the restoration and conservation community in Europe, and is very concerned about archival factors and quality of product. Always things about an artist's company that impresses me...!

Best,
Todd

[Karin Wells]

I never heard of the acrylic based Lascuax Primer. I usually purchase my (Claussens) linen already (acrylic) primed but oftentimes like to add another coat or two.

Would you recommend this product as a second coat? Where can I purchase it, i.e., do the big art supply catalogs carry it?

This Primer would be ideal for using over gesso if you are looking for a smooth finish, Karen.

To use it, I thinned with around 30% water (around the consistancy of Elmers glue), and applied, sanding inbetween coats with first 220 sandpaper, and then a light touch of 400 sandpaper; depending on how smooth you want it, you can even really work it and sand it to a mirror finish. When first applying it, it sets up like traditional gesso (brush marks may stay as are), rather than leveling out somewhat like the regular acrylic gessos that I have used (primarily Golden). Subsequent coats over the sanded first coat(s) level out much more smooth, and require less sanding. It really is best for folks that want to work at a smoother surface.

It dries incredibly fast--you can be sanding it within 15 minutes. It makes for very speedy work getting a smooth surface...!

You can get more information from Lascaux's WWW site at:

http://www.lascaux.ch/english/malhilfen/index.html

And here is the American Distributor's (Savior Fair) list of Lascaux dealer state by state:

http://www.savoir-faire.com/html/body_wtb3.html

According to them, out your way Cheap Joes should have it/be able to get it for you...

I got it at Pearl, but have also seen it at the better art stores around here in Los Angeles, all of whom seem to be starting to stock Lascaux's products.

Hope this helps...


Todd

Here is what Luis Guerreiro originally said about the Lascaux products:

Gesso coats can go up to 12, if you're using a traditional gesso. The Italians even used to apply a rougher gesso ("gesso grosso") first and then a fine one called "gesso sottile" or "gesso marcio", I think it was...

Just recently I have used acrylic gessoes from LASCAUX because this manufacturer actually used the same principle of the old masters, applied it to modern technology and came up with 2 products: GESSO (which relates directly to the "gesso grosso") and PRIMER (which is the acrylic version of the "gesso sottile").

I have recently, just for testing purposes used a piece of MDF [Masonite], applied 3 coats of LASCAUX GESSO, sanded a little between each of them and then applied 3 coats of LASCAUX PRIMER, the last one was lightly sanded, just a little, because this. PRIMER is VERY VERY "SOTTILE". Guess what... The result was astounding! The "feel" we all know when painting over traditional gesso can be largely replicated and the finish is similar.

Lascaux website is on: http://www.lascaux.ch/english/index.html
Regards
Luis