A great permanent flexible primer for canvas, board or even paper. An intense white ground with an excellent tooth for easy paint manipulation. Matisse Gesso is a water-based product and can be thinned down with water. Use equal parts of water to Matisse Gesso when working on raw canvas/linen. If working on canvas, Matisse Gesso will tighten the canvas, making a firmer ground to paint on. MM10 Gesso is suitable for creating a surface for both acrylic and oil paints. When priming for acrylic paints, two coats of gesso are recommended to ensure complete coverage. For oil paints, it is advisable to seal the surface first with MM5 Matt Medium or MM12 Clear Sealer, and then apply a minimum of 3 coats of gesso. As the oil in oil paints is readily absorbed by the gesso, a stronger sealed layer is needed to ensure the paint does not absorb through the gesso and onto the actual canvas. Matisse Gessoes contain Calcite grounds (calcium carbonate) which help to protect canvas from destructive gases given off by oil paints over their life-span.