Gamblin Oil Ground

Gamblin Oil Ground

Gamblin is a respected American brand dedicated to creating high-quality materials for oil painting and printmaking. Founded in 1980 and based in Portland, Oregon, the company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern science to develop paints, mediums, and additives that meet the needs of today’s artists. With a strong commitment to innovation, safety, and sustainability, Gamblin continues to refine classic painting materials while developing contemporary solutions that move the art of oil painting forward.

About this product:

• Gamblin Oil Ground makes a strong, bright, non-absorbent foundation for oil paintings;
  
• Oil Ground is formulated from alkyd resin, titanium dioxide, and calcium carbonate – titanium dioxide gives opacity, while calcium carbonate gives tooth for strong adhesion;
  
• This foundation makes a brighter and less-absorbent ground layer compared to acrylic gesso primers, meaning that the oil paint layers on top will better retain their color saturation;
  
• The lower absorbency also allows for reductive painting techniques when painters need to wipe back into the white of their Ground;
  
• Oil Ground is not designed for acrylic painting;
  
• Due to a higher pigment load, Gamblin Ground is thicker than acrylic gesso, and requires less coats and different application techniques;
  
• Oil Ground should be applied in 1-2 thin applications;
  
• Oil Ground may be thinned with Gamsol to improve the ease of application and encourage thin layers;
  
• The first coat should be touch dry in 2-4 days. A second coat takes another 3-5 days to dry and cure in warm weather and 5-7 days in cool and/or humid weather;
  
• Gamblin Ground may be used to cover an old painting - this is an economical way to reuse your canvases or panels when the painting doesn’t turn out the way you hoped;
  
• If the original oil paint was applied very thinly and the overall appearance is rather dull or matte, you may apply a coat of Oil Ground right over the top. If the surface is either shiny or has unwanted texture, it will need to be sanded before applying the Oil Ground.