True Gesso Panels by ARPI
We started with the best materials and methods, then made it affordable. We do not use tempered hardboard, nor do we cut little panels out of big sheets. We don't use mixed-hide glues or marble-dust pigments or cut any other corners. We use the best premium hardboard money can buy and we make your panels one at a time.
Below is a basic checklist of the issues which can affect the quality of gessoed panels.
Researchers and conservators have always agreed that the Untempered variety of hardboard is preferred for serious artistic use.Tempering adulterates the board with oils which will embrittle the surface fibers and can cause questionable adhesion. We invite you to explore the technical details in our research articles published in the Society of Tempera Painters Newsletter. Or see our custom panels and materials pages for less technical discussion.The use of Tempered board is a compromise in the interest of price or expediency. We only use the highest Premium grade of Untempered board, though it's more difficult to work with and to source.
Our panels are individually prepared, not cut down from sheets. Gesso is relatively brittle and cracking of the surface is always a concern. Cutting a panel may introduce cracks along the edge which can travel as the panel ages. When we prepare each panel individually, the gesso layer's tension is normalized over the surface and the edges are sure to be crack-free.Cutting panels to size is strictly a manufacturing expedient. For an uncompromised egg-tempera panel, we never recommend the practice.
Our panels are glue-sized on both sides. This is the only way to ensure that a panel will have equal tensions front and back and will therefore react with equilibrium to temperature and humidity changes. Over the years this will tend to keep the panel in-plane and prevent stress on the gesso layer from cupping or bowing.Sizing only the front saves a manufacturing step but compromises the gesso-panel. Our panels are glue-sized with multiple layers front and back for equilibrium.
--The term "rabbitskin glue" can be generic for a mixed-hide-glue. We made sure ours is certified pure rabbit-hide glue and is manufacturer-tested to a consistent strength each batch. Anything else is guesswork.--There are many forms of whiting. The cheapest is called marble-dust. The higher grade is ground limestone screened to a uniform particle size and tested for purity. Ours measures 2.4 microns average (quite fine) and tests as 98.6% pure calcium carbonate. It is a type preferred by gilders in the U.S. and France.
We spent many months testing pigments and recipes to arrive at an ideal modern egg-tempera gesso. Less expensive or untested materials only cheapen the product and can lead to failure of the painting support.
We offer this checklist as a quick guide to the qualities that make a professional egg-tempera support. Our custom panels and materials pages will provide you with more detail.
We hope our commitment to highest quality will persuade you to spend less time gessoing and more time painting!
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