Sinopia : Casein Gesso

Made in the US by Sinopia, this range of Casein Gessoes are an all-natural painting ground that has all of the same qualities as a traditional chalk ground made with whiting and rabbit skin glue. The big difference lies in the fact that Sinopia’s Casein Gesso is ready to be used directly out of the jar or bucket. No weighing, measuring, cooking or racing around during the application. Simply dip your brush into this creamy Casein Gesso and apply it onto any surface.

Casein Gesso is ideally suited for such traditional mediums as Encaustic and Egg Tempera, but it can also be used for paints such as Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors, Gouache and Milk Paints. The creamy primer spreads easily onto any surface, including wooden panels, paper, sculptures (wooden, plaster, etc.), canvas and even metal. If the Casein Gesso is allowed to cure for a week, the artwork can be displayed outdoors.

Once the surface dries, it yields a velvety finish that can be sanded for extra smoothness. Apply with a brush or roller in at least two coats and allow to dry overnight before sanding to the required smoothness or burnishing with a soft cloth. If you are using more than two coats of gesso, remember to apply them over a longer time-frame; no more than two coats a day. Because the recipe includes a linseed oil emulsion, it may be advisable to wait four or five days for the surface to cure before proceeding with the artwork.

The Casein Gesso can be thinned with water, applied with a sprayer or roller, and cleans up easily with water. Additionally, it leaves a small amount of residual oil in the brush, which conditions the bristles beautifully after rinsing.

So what is in Sinopia’s Casein Gesso?
Since 2011, the Sinopia Test Kitchen has worked on perfecting this proprietary recipe, which includes the following all-natural ingredients: Water, Calcium Carbonate, Cold Pressed Linseed Oil, Milk Protein (Casein), Natural Tree Resins, Fossilized Sea Shells, Saponified Olive Oil and Salt. The Casein Gesso is available in white and black. The white version contains a brilliant Titanium White pigment, while the black version contains a deep, rich Bone Black pigment.