Clear Texture Acrylic Gesso Premium 250ml

Mont Marte Clear Texture Acrylic Gesso 250 ml — the transparent gesso for prepping canvas, board, paper or wood without losing the under-surface colour. $10.99 a tub, in stock at our Morningside Auckland warehouse, free NZ shipping over $75.

What is gesso (and why you need it)

Gesso is a primer for painting surfaces — a thin paint-like coat that seals the surface and gives the paint something to grip. Without gesso, acrylic and oil paint soaks unevenly into canvas or wood; with it, colour sits true, brushwork stays sharp, and your work lasts. Clear gesso does the same job as white gesso but stays transparent, so you can prime a coloured paper, raw wood, or a previously painted surface without covering it.

What you get

• 250 ml of Mont Marte Premium Clear Texture Gesso
• Water-based, non-toxic, fully transparent when dry
• Adds a fine tooth (texture) for paint adhesion
• Compatible with acrylic, oil, watercolour, gouache and pastel

How to use clear gesso

1. Make sure your surface is clean and dry.
2. Apply with a wide flat brush or foam roller in a single thin coat.
3. Let dry 1–2 hours.
4. Apply a second coat at 90° to the first for an even tooth.
5. Let dry overnight before painting.

Clear gesso vs white gesso — which do you want?

Use white gesso if you want a fresh, bright, opaque base under your painting (the standard choice for stretched canvas). Use clear gesso if you want to keep the under-surface visible — coloured Kraft paper, raw birch ply, a pre-existing sketch, or a previously-painted layer you want to preserve. We stock both.

Pairs well with

Most gesso buyers also pick up Mont Marte Signature canvases, an acrylic brush for application, and our full Mont Marte acrylic paint range for the painting layer.

Frequently asked questions

What does gesso do?

Gesso seals the painting surface (so paint doesn't soak in unevenly) and adds a fine tooth that helps paint adhere properly. It's the foundation layer for almost all painted work on canvas, board, wood, or paper.

Do I need to gesso a pre-primed canvas?

Pre-primed Mont Marte canvases are already triple-primed and ready to paint — you don't need to add more gesso unless you want a smoother surface or to bring back a worked-over canvas. For raw canvas, raw wood, or paper you absolutely do need to gesso.

How many coats of gesso should I use?

Two thin coats applied at 90° to each other is the standard. For very absorbent surfaces (raw timber, untreated paper) use three.

Can you tint gesso with acrylic paint?

Yes — mix in a small amount of acrylic to give a tinted ground. This works with both white and clear gesso. Useful if you want to start your painting on a coloured base rather than pure white.

How long does gesso take to dry?

Touch-dry in 1–2 hours; ready to paint over after 6–12 hours (overnight is safest). Drying takes longer in cool, humid Auckland winters.

Can I gesso onto wood and other surfaces?

Yes — gesso works on canvas, canvas board, MDF, plywood, paper, card and even glass or metal (lightly scuffed first). It's the universal primer for art surfaces.

Do you ship gesso NZ-wide?

Yes, we ship NZ-wide from our Morningside Auckland warehouse. Tracked courier 1–3 business days to main centres, +1–2 days rural. Free shipping over $75 NZD.