Primers & Grounds: Start Every Painting on the Right Surface
A good primer is the foundation of a lasting painting. Applied before paint, it seals the surface, improves adhesion and gives you a consistent base to work on. Whether you're priming a canvas, wood panel, paper or an unconventional support, DeSerres carries a selection of primers and grounds suited to acrylic, oil and mixed media work, in white, black and clear formulations.
Choosing the Right Primer for Your Support and Medium
Gesso is the most widely used primer in painting. Traditional white gesso provides an opaque, slightly textured surface ideal for acrylic and oil paint. Black gesso is used when a dark ground suits the composition or technique. Clear or transparent grounds seal the surface without obscuring its natural colour or texture, useful for wood, fabric or tinted papers. Specialty grounds such as absorbent ground or pastel ground prepare surfaces for specific media. Always match your primer to your support and your paint for the best results. Explore our Canvases, Acrylic Mediums and our full Mediums, Varnishes & Resins collection for more options.
