How to Use Gesso for Prepping Journaling Bible Pages

Many people are afraid to use certain art mediums or supplies in their journaling Bible because of the messy consistency. That is no longer a worry when you learn how to use gesso for prepping journaling Bible pages.

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In the last part of my “All About the Bible Journaling” series, we talked about gathering supplies you want to use and making sure you are prepared mentally and also in your workspace for the most blessed time of worship. Now that your workspace is prepped and ready to go, we may need to prep some of your journaling Bible pages for the best outcome.

Gesso is a paint-like substance with a consistency similar to acrylic paint and white in appearance. It provides a base and texture to the Bible page making it feel thicker. Because Bible pages are so thin, many art mediums bleed through the page or may even rip it completely when you are working. Gesso allows you to be able to still use those mediums without any hassle.

My favorite brand to use is Liquitex. It does give the page somewhat of a gritty texture that you can usually wipe off carefully with dry cloth. It is great though because it coats the page enough with just one coat and prevents bleed through amazingly.

When do I need to use it?

I usually will prep my pages if I’m using acrylic paint, watercolors, or gelatos at times depending on what technique I use with gelatos. Because of their wet consistency, it just helps make the page feel thicker and more durable. Plus you do not tend to have as much bleed through on the back side of the page.

How do I use it?

#1: Brush the gesso onto the page or area that you will be working on. I love to use foam paint brushes because they clean very easy once I’m done and get the job done without any bristle marks. You will want to designate the same brush for gesso though. Be sure to only paint a thin coat and do not go overboard or the page will become very rough.

#2: Allow the gesso to dry completely once you have brushed it all on. It will dry completely clear so do not worry when you are brushing, and it seems to cover the scripture. I will use an embossing heat gun at times to dry the gesso quicker. Just don’t hold the heat gun too close to the page or it will cause unnecessary crinkling of the page.

#3: Some people will notice a gritty texture at times and depending on the brand they use. If this happens to you, take a dry cloth and brush over the page lightly to remove any small grits of gesso that may have been left behind.

In the picture below I prepped the page with gesso and then used watercolors. This is the back side of that page. You see there is only minimal shadowing. That color can really be used to work with another entry on that opposite side in the future.

As always, feel free to play around with your supplies and see what works best for you. You can have success using the same supplies with and without gesso. I always recommend practicing on the extra blank pages in the back of your Bible first to see how the page will handle a certain technique. I hope you enjoy and God bless!

If you are so excited and anxious to get started, then you may want to go ahead and sign up for my free 5 Day eCourse that is perfect to jump start this new study tool of Bible journaling. You will receive a new email each day discussing a different topic or aspect with a little fun “homework” assignment each day to keep you accountable with getting started.

You can sign up here!

If you are even more ambitious, then check out my eBook, Adventures in Bible Journaling: An Extensive Beginner’s Guide to Art and Bible Journaling, to get even more information and tutorials. I have a Gold, Silver, and Bronze package depending on what you are looking for specifically. There are printables and also step-by-step video tutorials that make it even easier to understand so you can work right alongside me in your Bible.