Weekly BobBlast Issue 540

Best of BobBlast - Why Start with Colored Gesso

Welcome Back to Another BobBlast!

We have just returned from the very successful Hermosa Beach, CA workshop! A Loosen Up Workshop where eighteen painters worked on a variety of assignments and created a total of ninety-one pieces. We celebrated with an art show opening titled “Little Gems” at Gallery of Hermosa. Thirteen works were sold! Check out photos posted on social media. We are planning on doing another workshop/gallery show combo next May!

That said, this is why we are doing a Best of BobBlast this week—still in keeping with our “Tools of the Trade” theme. We are featuring Gesso—specifically colored gesso. This BobBlast answers the question I often hear at workshops: Why do you start a painting first with a warm colored gesso? And as I always say… the short answer is this is the technique taught in art school: Tone the surface first.

If you start with a mid-tone, like orange - your painting is halfway completed!

I start by putting Holbein Acrylic Orange Gesso (they have 22 different colors of gesso) all over the surface. Holbein paints and gesso are heavily pigmented, so I can use lots of water. The gesso can spread out, without loosing its potency of color, as you can see in the video demo.

Here's a bit of basic info about gesso - I put gesso on all my surfaces first - because I expect the paint to react the same, whether it is on canvas, wooden panel or paper. Gesso makes the substrate/surface the same... levels the playing field, so to speak. A coat or two of gesso will produce the same expected results on all surfaces, whether it is your standard white gesso, or a colored gesso.

Standard play time in the studio can start this way:

1. Apply Orange Gesso, let dry
2. Start painting with acrylic paint, any color
3. While top layer is still wet, scrape and scratch into the surface, revealing the colored gesso layer underneath

Painting and drawing on top of a colored gesso surface adds just enough joie de vivre! Stay tuned for the next BobBlast with more Tools of the Trade!

Online Monthly Demos

•November 14, 2024

“Painting Stemware Glasses”

•December 11, 2024

“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”

Click here for more info and 2025 Demos!

Online Workshops Coming Up!

•November 16-17, 2024

Small Scale Abstract Painting

Click here for more info

•November 21, 2024

Painting the Illusion of Glass Vessels

Click here for more info

And… an Online Figure Workshop!

•December 6-8, 2024

"Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion & Emotion"

Featuring the Model Pash

Click here for more info

Traveling Bob – In-Person Workshops!

•January 6-10, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ

Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts

contact 715-747-2054 or misa@madelineschool.com

Click here for more info

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Paint-Cation! Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here to register and for more info

Bob made a cool video with a demo—Click here!

Burridge Online Coaching

• Private one-on-one

Critiques • Coaching • Comments • Strategies

Click here for more info

Paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, California!

Mentor, 5-day Instructional, Figure Painting and One-on-One Workshops

Click here for more info.

Contact Kate@robertburridge.com for questions.

2024

•November 7-10, 2024  ONE SPOT OPEN!

Robert Burridge Studio Mentor Workshop

Come paint with Bob in his Studio in Arroyo Grande, CA

(includes individual mentor time, demonstrations and personal theme development)

4-day Workshop/Mentor Program, limited to 7 enrollees

Contact kate@RobertBurridge.com for fees and details.

Click HERE for more info.

•November 14, 2024

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Painting Stemware Glasses”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•November 16-17, 2024

Small Scale Abstract Painting - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•November 21, 2024

Painting the Illusion of Glass Vessels - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 6-8, 2024

Drawing & Painting the Figure with Motion and Emotion -ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 11, 2024

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Using Neutrals in your Paintings”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 14-15, 2024

Painting Figures without Painting Figures - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•December 16, 2024

Abstract Florals from Loose Colorful Splatters - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

2025

•January 6-10, 2025

Abstract Acrylic Painting & Collage

Tanque Verde Ranch, Tucson, AZ

Sponsored by Madeline Island School of the Arts

contact 715-747-2054 or misa@madelineschool.com

Click here for more info

•January 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“How to Paint with Acrylic Inks”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•January 18-25, 2025

Tropical Escapaint! 

Loosen Up Painting Retreat in Mexico

Casa de Los Artistas

Boca de Tomatlan, 10 miles South of Puerto Vallarta 

Contact Robert Masla, (413) 335-4295

Click here for more info

•January 30, 2025

Loose Figures in an Abstract Painting - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 14, 2025

Bob’s Monthly Demo - ONLINE DEMO

“Diptychs and other Multiples”

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•February 25, 2025

Painting Light & Shadow - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

•March 1-2, 2025

Painting with Dry Pigments, Chalks & Powders - ONLINE WORKSHOP

Sponsored by Robert Burridge Studio

Contact kate@robertburridge.com

Click here for more info

Entire 2025 Workshop Schedule — click here!

Hope you have enjoyed these short, weekly blasts!

Sign up on my website and keep watching. There are lots of them!

Click HERE to view BobBlast Issue 540 video!

Best of BobBlast - Why Start with Colored Gesso

Weekly BobBlast 540 - Video run time 9 minutes, 40 seconds

Remember!

You can always get a 10% discount with this code: BOBBLAST

Burridge Loosen Up Workshop Combo

Can’t make it to a Robert Burridge Workshop? This is the perfect combo for you to learn 

& practice Bob’s Loosen Up Painting Techniques!

Includes:

Loosen Up Workshop Notes

Goof-Proof Travel Color Wheel

3 Essential Art Studio and Plein Air Guides

•Click here to order - Printed Loosen Up Combo

•Click here to order - Digital Loosen Up Combo

Buy a Digital Creativity Combo

eWorkbook, Travel Color Wheel 

and a set of 3 Studio Guides!

•Click here to order - Digital Creativity Combo

To read about Bob's studio practices, intentions, and painting tips, check out his 

Loosen Up and Studio Notes eWorkbook

•Click here to order - eWorkbook for iOS or PC/Android

For more info about Bob's Workshop Schedule click here.