Gesso I guess

Is gesso needed and if so is it cheaper to make it yourself instead of buying it?
It depends on where you live but no way glue is cheap and the "cheaper" primer wins if it comes to the price.

Gesso... stinks and can cause allergies and issues breathing. Some use it instead ot (titanium) white.

The idea of this primer is to place a layer over your paper/canvas.
I tried it out with 2 different types of gesso + titanium white.

White is white. The two papers at the top are watercolour paper, those at the bottom very thin (my guess 40 grams) sketching paper.

Those at the top have one layer with gesso from Xenos, it's thick and contains little 'stones' very annoying. It is not easy to use with a brush.

At the bottom left is gesso from the brand Van Bleiswijck used and the sheet at the bottom right has a layer of titanium white acrylic paint. I never use gesso but use a layer of (black) paint.

Van Bleiswijck is thinner and easier to spread on the paper although wet the thin paper easily tears. Let it dry before you lift it.

As it dries the paper curls up. The worst it does with the gesso from Xenos, so the thick layer. Idecided to turn the paper to flatten it a bit. It kind of worked.

I did not paint on the sheets but used 3 for pouring painting to see if it can withstand a thick, wet layer of paint.

Note:
• Canvas and cardboard are sold with 3 layers of gesso.
• I did thusfar not notice any difference between gesso or a layer of paint.
• Gesso didn't make pouring paint easier.

_8.9.25