This board is the furthest out of whack, perhaps because it received a few fully covered layers?
The Natural Pigment boards have some gesso on the backside, and I suspect they are also sized. The RealGesso boards have no gesso on the back. They might be sized; I'm not sure.
I've read in many places that warping is common without back coatings, especially as board size increases. Sometimes bracing is used. I have rabbit skin glue and gesso mix so I could probably try working these boards up myself. I have contacted the manufacturer for guidance. More on this later...
Uh-oh... how discouraging!
ReplyDeleteAlthough a bit hazy on where I originally picked up the advice, I have always painted a large thick X of gesso (from corner to corner) on the back of any board or panel on which I would be gesso-ing the front to prevent warping. Even when working in my journals, if I am putting a lot of paint on one side of the paper, I put equal amounts on the other side to prevent warping/curling. So far, so good. As I do not work much larger than 11x14, I am not sure if this would hold true for anything over that; I am inclined to agree that perhaps some type of bracing might then be required.
Still so much to learn for all of us, eh?
~ gretchen
Yes indeed, so much to learn. I have to laugh. Night after night I've had my nose in those boards and never noticed! Last night I glance over at one of my many piles of papers and books and there's this bent up panel on top!
ReplyDeleteMore posts on all this to come as I hear from the supplier and pull together some quoting from my various authorities.
Indeed, there's always another layer to peel! :-)
Over the years RealGesso's quality has gone done. The last batch I bought had a ton of pinholes and some even had hairline cracks. On any panels over 8x10 I usually add poplar bracing strips to the back to make sure warping does not happen. TrueGesso panels are better quality and have a nicer more absorbent ground you might want to look at those too. www.TrueGesso.com
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alex. I'll give truegesso.com a try next time I buy.
ReplyDelete