Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

Gamblin Ground is a great alternative to traditional lead ground. If you're used to acrylic gesso ground it takes getting used to because it is much more like a lead ground. On canvas it must be thinned somewhat. You must follow Gamblins instructions carefully. I use one thin coat over two coats of acrylic gesso which have been sanded lightly. I talked to Gamblin about this procedure and they told me it was a sound way to prepare a good surface for oil painting. Oil colors stay much more brilliant on this surface than on just an acrylic ground because it is not absorbant like acrylic gesso is. A really great product...thanks Gamblin!

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

I also had difficulties with this product drying at first , but it was due to my improperly applying it . The first panel I did finally did dry with a week . The second panel I did , I used a 2" foam roller and first coat dried in 12 hours and the second coat a few hours longer . The surface was as smooth as if it had been sprayed . The only bad thing I could say about it is the smell .... but then what art supplies don't smell ;) ! I will purchase and use again !

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

This is the best primer/gesso I've ever tried. For those who claim that it didn't dry I can only say you applied it too thickly. It is best to dilute with a tiny amount of mineral spirits and use a trowel/spatula to SCRAPE on a VERY THIN smooth layer. For me each layer was ready to sand in 24 hours. It definitely covers better than acrylic gesso and provides a smoother surface. One Quart covered six 24"x36" canvases and one 3ft by 6ft canvas with 2 coats each. Work in a well-ventilated area and lightly sand before painting on it.
The one negative aspect, and why I withheld one star is the can it comes in. It is a typical paint can with the overhanging lip, this makes opening and getting the stuff out very, very messy. They should try to use a can with no lip that screws on, like Blick's acrylic gesso quart.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

I agree with sticky wicket comments. This product is sticky and disappointing for the price. Very slow drying as an oil painting ground. Better experience on panel, but poor performance on canvas and linen. My studio is a very low humidity zone, and things dry, even during the rainy season.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

I previously wrote a note about the canvas not drying and being sticky. I wrote Gamblin tech services and got a long and etailed reply the next day. They do have good customer service.

In retrospect I think the can may have been on the shelf a long time and the ground was very thick. Watch how thin it is in the video on the Gamblin website. Make sure it is thin and apply a thin layer. I am assured the canvas will dry.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

Like the gentleman who wrote the review from Florida. After a week it is still sticky an I have some large unusable canvasses (60x48). I watched the Gamblin video before applying it and I followed the instuctions to a tee. After a week the surface is more tacky than duct tape. As to the manufacturers comment to the previous reviewer that he applied it wrong - how can that be. I can understand an uneven surface or other mechanical problem but paint doesn't just not dry if you brush it on wrong!

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

for painting on wood [birchwood] i fell it is ideal,applying with a flat plastic plaster knife works nice, i do 3 coats sand each coat down, and the finish is perfect and smooth, the colors seem more vibrant, and layering and glazing comes out smooth, i do not suggest useing a brush of any kind to apply this product, plaster knife multiple layers 3-4 and sanding each layer is the way to go for a smooth, bite free surface.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

Really diffult to work with even when following the directions from the Gamblin website. Extremely sticky, almost impossible to clean out of the brush or roller. Expensive. I will be buying my linen and canvas pre-primed or go back to using acrylic gesso from now on.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

I followed the directions by using a metal trowel to spread the ground into the canvas before feathering it out with a large brush. However, I am now using a bit of thinner to make it easier to move around. It does take a week to dry, but I normally keep ahead of myself by preparing 7-8 canvases in advance of projects. I work large--usually 30"X40" or larger--so the product does get expensive. I wish they sold a gallon of it at a reduced price. Other suggestions to prospective users would be to use quality, heavyweight (at least 10 oz) canvas and quality oil paints and mediums. If you follow "the program" you'll see a significant difference in your finished product. I've had lots of comments on the brilliance of my oil colors since using this product.

Comments about Gamblin Oil Painting Ground:

I've done one linen canvas so far with this product and liked the outcome. Not sure what happened with the one reviewer that had trouble, but my experience is it dried overnight if applied correctly and was able to get two coats on easily and let it dry for a week and it was fine. I am wondering if that reviewer did not stir the product first? Anyway, Still not sure I prefer this over pre-primed linen, but will give a go for awhile longer before deciding. And, thats a personal choice really. Nothing negative to say about this product.