For super-intense surface textures in a flash, try applying a layer of Liquitex Super Heavy Acrylic Gesso. Similar to an acrylic gel medium, you can shape Super Heavy Gesso with a palette knife or move it around with a stiff brush. It holds the shape of whatever tool you choose, allowing you to build whatever topography you prefer for your painting.

Dries to a textured, paint-friendly surface suitable for acrylic or oil paints.

8 ounces (237 mL). Wide-mouth plastic jar. Made in France.

ABOUT LIQUITEX

Founded in Cincinnati in 1955, Liquitex was the first company to bring acrylic paints to the fine-art market. Along the way, the chemists and designers at Liquitex have created lots of important products that we now take for granted — for example, they formulated the first water-based acrylic gesso. (In the early 20th century, oil-based primers were much more common.)

Since 2000, Liquitex has been part of the Colart Group, along with Winsor & Newton and several other important manufacturing brands. Like Winsor paints (which were originally from the U.K.), most Liquitex products today are made at Colart's paint factory in France.