How to Use Solid Solutions Clear Sealer (Clear Gesso)

Artist Overview

Solid Solutions Clear Sealer (often called clear gesso) is a transparent, acrylic-based surface preparation used to seal and prime many art supports. It helps regulate absorbency, improves paint adhesion, and creates a stable ground without covering the natural colour, grain, or imagery of the surface beneath.

Clear Sealer is particularly useful for mixed media, collage, and contemporary painting where you want the underlying surface to remain visible while still gaining a paint-ready foundation.

Surface Preparation

Start with a clean, dry surface. Remove dust and loose fibres, and wipe away any oils or residue. On very absorbent supports (raw wood, MDF, paper, unsealed board), sealing is important to prevent patchy paint absorption and dull colour.

Mix the product gently before use to keep the consistency even.

Application

Apply Clear Sealer straight from the bottle using a wide soft brush, foam brush, sponge, or small roller. Work in thin, even layers and avoid over-brushing once the surface begins to tack.

Allow the coat to dry fully, then assess the surface. Porous materials often benefit from multiple thin coats rather than one heavy coat for a smoother, more consistent ground.

Optional Tinted Ground

For a subtle coloured base, mix a small amount of acrylic paint into the Clear Sealer to create a translucent ground. This gives you a sealed foundation with a gentle tone while keeping the surface character visible.

Drying and Clean Up

Drying time varies with temperature, humidity, and coat thickness. Once dry to the touch, you can begin painting. For best adhesion and durability, allow extra drying time before heavy layering.

Clean tools with warm water and mild soap immediately after use.

Advanced Techniques

  • Build durability with several thin coats for a more even, controlled surface.
  • On rigid panels, lightly sand between coats to achieve a refined, ultra-smooth ground.
  • Seal collage layers first to reduce staining, sinking, and uneven absorption in later paint layers.
  • Use a sponge or foam applicator to minimise visible brush marks on large areas.
  • Create depth by sealing, glazing, and resealing between mixed media layers to unify complex surfaces.

Clear Sealer (Clear Gesso) Questions & Answers

It prepares a surface for painting while staying transparent. It reduces uneven absorbency, improves adhesion, and stabilises porous supports without hiding the surface underneath.

White gesso creates an opaque white ground. Clear sealer stays transparent, so the original colour, grain, texture, or imagery of the support remains visible.

Yes. Once dry, it forms a stable ground that helps acrylic paint spread more evenly and adhere reliably.

Most artists use one to three thin coats. Very porous surfaces may need additional coats to achieve a consistent, sealed feel.

Yes. These supports often benefit the most because sealing reduces uneven absorption and helps prevent paint from drying patchy or dull.

It dries clear, but it may slightly deepen the appearance of some surfaces as it seals them, similar to how a clear acrylic medium can enrich colour or grain.

Yes. It can seal paper edges and porous collage elements, helping reduce staining, warping, and uneven absorption before you paint or glaze over the top.

Yes. Adding a small amount of acrylic paint creates a translucent, coloured ground. This is useful when you want a toned base without losing the surface character.

You can paint once it is fully dry to the touch. If you plan heavy layering or mixed media build-up, letting it dry longer helps the surface feel more stable and consistent.

Apply several thin coats, allow full drying between coats, and lightly sand on rigid surfaces if needed. Using a foam applicator can also reduce brush marks on large, flat areas.